{"id":75563,"date":"2015-11-05T12:00:10","date_gmt":"2015-11-05T19:00:10","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.biggerpockets.com\/renewsblog\/?p=75563"},"modified":"2021-03-16T11:47:46","modified_gmt":"2021-03-16T17:47:46","slug":"2015-11-05-4-core-tenant-responsibilities-landlord","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.biggerpockets.com\/blog\/2015-11-05-4-core-tenant-responsibilities-landlord","title":{"rendered":"The 4 Core Tenant Responsibilities Every Landlord Should Know"},"content":{"rendered":"

All of us are well-versed in what property management is designed to do for our tenants <\/span>and <\/span><\/i>our investment properties. When we consider property maintenance, we usually think of those responsibilities: fixing or replacing broken appliances, changing locks and performing major repairs.<\/span><\/p>\n

At the most basic, core level, owners and managers are required to provide a safe, habitable space for tenants. What this <\/span>means <\/span>can vary based on local law, but these standards always involve things like safety, health, and cleanliness. Some tasks, however, don\u2019t necessarily always fall to property management. Your tenants have responsibilities, too. This is where the lines get blurred for many real estate investors who put the wrong responsibilities on the wrong party and then wonder why they can collect for some maintenance from the tenants and not other maintenance.<\/span><\/p>\n

While they may not be vital to the habitability of the property, there are things tenants have to do. Because\u00a0those lines can get blurry and cause contention, let me\u00a0clarify.<\/span><\/p>\n

Remember that these guidelines are <\/span>typical <\/span>and may vary under different legal regulations.<\/span><\/p>\n

4 Core Tenant Maintenance Responsibilities<\/h2>\n

Cleanliness & Sanitation<\/h3>\n

At the top of the list of a tenant\u2019s maintenance responsibilities is simply keeping things <\/span>clean. <\/span>Tenants are expected to take out the trash, cut the yard, keep cars off blocks and out of the yard, and keep the property neat — just to name a few basics. That means regular housework: cleaning toilets and countertops, dusting, mopping, vacuuming, mowing, edging and so on. While <\/span>some <\/span><\/i>mess can be understandable, tenants can\u2019t neglect these basic tasks. Sometimes, they may even be required to take care of cleaning the gutters, though some management companies may offer to do it for an additional fee to the tenant. The same goes for small, regular tasks, like changing air filters and light bulbs.<\/span><\/p>\n

Related:<\/strong> Are You OVER-Screening Tenants? How Background Checks & Credit Scores Can Fail<\/a><\/em><\/p>\n

When properties aren\u2019t kept clean, they can be a breeding ground for mold and infestations of bugs and vermin. Keep an eye out for warning signs of this kind of neglect, as it can cost owners a lot to fix in the long run. Easy warning signs are visible from the street. Other signs need to be regularly inspected or watched after by a repairman visiting the house for an issue and keeping a keen eye on cleanliness. They then report back to you on the condition and whether there is a need for a bigger inspection.<\/span><\/p>\n

Reporting Issues in a Timely Manner<\/h3>\n

Tenants may not be responsible for fixing major property issues, but they\u2019re responsible for reporting them as soon as possible. If they don\u2019t mention a problem (leaking pipes, for instance) to the manager, they may be held liable for additional damages that wouldn\u2019t have happened had the issue been reported and rectified earlier.<\/span><\/p>\n

It\u2019s vital for the health and condition of your investment property that tenants are actively encouraged to communicate with the property management when an issue arises. While it may be inconvenient at times, leaving a problem unaddressed is far more damaging.<\/span><\/p>\n

Covering Personal Errors & Accidents<\/h3>\n

We know that tenants aren\u2019t responsible for covering regular wear and tear. Things get damaged and worn just by virtue of being used, whether that\u2019s the carpet or appliances. Still, that doesn\u2019t mean that you\u2019ll <\/span>always <\/span>have to foot the bill. Tenants who cause damages with carelessness are responsible for fixing the damages. That could be anything from cleaning the carpet after a wine spill to replacing a broken window.<\/span><\/p>\n

Using the Property Properly<\/h3>\n

We all want and expect tenants to use the property as it was intended and without illegal activity, but we know that unfortunately, this isn\u2019t always the case. If a tenant uses a room, fixture, or appliance in any way that is not within its intended use and it is damaged or broken as a result, they are absolutely liable for those damages.<\/span>\u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n

Related:<\/strong> Landlords: Forget Being \u201cNice.\u201d THIS is the Key to a Good Tenant Relationship.<\/a><\/em><\/p>\n

Tips for Owners & Property Managers<\/h2>\n
    \n
  • Value regular inspections. <\/strong>The most sure way to catch a problem is to look for it. Managers shouldn\u2019t neglect routine inspections in case the tenant missed or didn\u2019t report a problem. Inspections also are a chance to see that the tenant is living up to their end of the bargain with their basic maintenance responsibilities. If there are damages, be sure to document them with photographic evidence, just in case.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
      \n
    • Be diligent with property repairs. <\/strong>Tenants aren\u2019t very incentivized to care for a property if you\u2019re not doing it, either. When a problem is reported, the ball is in your court to see that it gets fixed in a proper and timely manner. A lack of property repairs can impact habitability standards and land you in legal hot water — not to mention the potential to further damage your property.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
        \n
      • Be clear in your contract. <\/strong>Do your renters know what you expect in terms of tenant maintenance responsibilities? In your lease agreement, ensure that these requirements are clearly defined, particularly when it comes to specifying\u00a0regular wear and tear and situations in which tenants will be held responsible for damages.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n

        Has a tenant\u2019s failure to properly maintain your property made a negative impact on your investments? <\/span><\/em><\/p>\n

        Share your cautionary tales in the comments.<\/strong><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

        All of us are well-versed in what property management is designed to do for our tenants and our investment properties. When we consider property maintenance, we usually think of those […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":676,"featured_media":75590,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[5183],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-75563","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-landlording"],"acf":[],"comment_count":0,"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.biggerpockets.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/75563","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.biggerpockets.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.biggerpockets.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.biggerpockets.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/676"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.biggerpockets.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=75563"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.biggerpockets.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/75563\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.biggerpockets.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/75590"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.biggerpockets.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=75563"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.biggerpockets.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=75563"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.biggerpockets.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=75563"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}