College students - parties and noise?

Question

Is there anything I can put in a lease to college students regarding parties, noise, loud music, disturbing neighbors, disturbing other tenants, etc? Can I specifically exclude "fraternity and sorority functions" from the premises? Can I say no gatherings larger than 10 guests? Etc? Thanks

Jake Thomas · Answer

Renting to college students isn't for everyone but putting the language in the lease and enforcing it are difficult.  Here students can get noise violations which stay on their record, I warn them of this since every college student thinks anything on their record will kill their chances of getting a job.

Lisa Monnig · Answer

We rent to college kids and have added to the lease that if there are any fines for excessive noise, parties, calls to the Police then they pay the fines, not us.  We received a call from the Police that they went to the house and gave them a warning.  We went to the property the next day and reminded them about the language in the lease and again set expectations.  They continue to have parties (we've seen the mattresses propped up against windows to filter the noise (seriously) but have had another call from the Police.  Good luck.

Colleen F. · Answer

Our local area has noise ordinances which we incorporate in the lease regarding parties and noise. Our lease also  indicates that we can evict for violations and fines will be deducted from their deposits if they  do not pay them (town says they are on the landlord if the tenants don't pay them).  The local example lease for our university and that many landlords base their lease off has provisions related to  soriorities and fraternity events. The only way these are enforceable is if you issue lease violations over them and use those to terminate the lease.

Two of the best things to do regarding parties and noise is set expectations (when you show them the place and on move in) on what your policies are and do some college screening (google them,  look for serious majors, look for kids without spare time to party).  Don't get me wrong we have had kids that drink the bottles lined up to prove it  but  you have to tell them what the line is they can't cross regarding disturbing neighbors.  I tell them upfront that the neighbors will call the police and me.  I am happy they are happy they are graduating but at the end of the day I don't want a police sticker on my door.    We are in an area though where the police lean towards excessive enforcement when it comes to students.

Thomas S. · Answer

You can say what you want, whether you can enforce it under your state landlord tenant regulations is another matter. If your state regulations allowes you to evict for violation of such rules then that will be your recourse. Read up on your state regulations.

Jon S. · Answer

Thomas S.

Thank you, that is exactly what my attorney said! If the noise violates local codes and ordinances, that is automatically grounds with a warning. However, we included some additional language that limits the number of guests to not more than 10, and that disturbances to neighbors and other tenants of loud noise, loud music, are not permitted and that fraternity organized events are not permitted.  As you said, it may not be enforceable, but it is in the lease, so at least the tenant knows what is expected. Hopefully, I will never have to find out if it is enforceable.

College students - parties and noise?

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