Renting to Students, is there a clause for Mandatory Housekeeper?

Question

Are there any clauses that would allow a landlord to hire a housekeeper to clean an apartment if the landlord thinks it is not kept reasonably clean? I know its a long shot, but wondering if anyone who has rented to college students has ever included such a provision in their lease, and is it enforceable, and is it legal?

Thomas S. · Answer

You simply do regular inspections, every couple of months for students, and inforce standards to insure damage is repaired and the general condition is maintained as the contract proceeds.

Being a landlord comes with responsibilities. It is not Passive Investing.

Kelly N. · Answer

Give them a clean unit to move into, and let them know you expect the unit to be clean when they move out.  Other than that, I wouldn't worry about their housekeeping unless it is causing problems- mold or pests for example.

I would also include something about the exterior- we have local ordinances about porch/yard furniture having to be outdoor furniture (to keep people from the classic couch on the porch), when and where to place garbage bins and recycling, and keeping the yard cleaned up (no garden or solo cups and beer bottles etc).  We even have a clause that states the porch roofs are not to be used for recreation...

I have recently had to add that vehicles on the premises must be licensed, insured, and operable, but that was due to a non student storing his junk van in his designated parking spot.

Account Closed · Answer

Probably.  But, I'm trying to imagine what would be involved in policing it.  It would kind of put you in the role of daddy, seems to me.  How often would you invade their space to see if it's clean enough?  Would you then have conversations with them about how to clean?

Sounds like something I wouldn't want to deal with anyway.  Why not just put the housekeeper in from the git-go and include it in the rent?

Account Closed · Answer

Oh, and I forgot to mention that I discovered there is a need for summer housing by students who come for internships or summer programs.  So, there is really no need to worry about having a year lease with student tenants, regarding vacancies over the summer.

Summer interns/summer program students will pay a premium for short term housing over the summer.  I allowed my law students to sublet over the summer.  They often had internships far away for the summer, but didn't want to lose their housing.  So, I'd work with them to sublet their units over the summer.

I also rented vacant units over the summer to internship students, with fall students lined up to move in after the summer.

So, I wouldn't avoid M2M agreements based on worrying about summer vacancies.  Summer short term rentals are actually lucrative.  If you're near a university with summer internship programs.

Funny story - my law students who would want to sublet over the summer would ask me if they can charge a different amount of rent from their subletters (is that a word?).  What I did was gave them written permission to have a "guest" over the summer, but the permission could be revoked if there were any problems with the guest.    Anyway, I told them the money that exchanged between them was between them, but the original tenant on the agreement would be liable to me for rent each month.

They would usually leave me post-dated checks.  Anyway, they told me they would actually make money off the sublet tenant LOL.  I told them, good for them!  I was happy to just keep the rent rolling in with no problems.

I never had a problem doing this.  It was a win-win.  I'd meet their sub-tenant and they often wanted to be sure they were there with permission, etc.

My point just being - don't be afraid of M2M with students.  Renting the units over the summer is not a problem, normally.  Including students in student housing who don't want to pay the university's summer rates but don't want to go home for the summer.

Account Closed · Answer

This is another situation where having month to month agreements are so great.  If you discover your tenants are incapable of having an environment clean enough that they aren't the roach hotel on the block, regardless of warnings, you just give them 30 days notice to move.

By the way, if there is any way you can just rent to grad students - preferably med students or law students or engineering students - just not art or theater majors (party animals!) - they're just more responsible - and smart enough to go party somewhere else rather than wake up to the mess at their own house.

I discovered law students and the law school on the campus next to the building I managed, agreed to list my vacancies on their facebook page.  I only rented small studios, so didn't have a party house type rental anyway.  But, if you could rent to law students, med students, traveling nurses - you'd have way less chances of a horror show regarding cleanliness.

See if there's a way to avoid undergrads, at least, is my advice.

Jon S. · Answer

Sue K. Yes, those clauses make sense too.

Thanks everyone :)

Thao Kieu · Answer

You definitely can discuss with your tenant to have house cleaning regularly 1 a month, it is totally up to you, I am sure everyone will be happy to live in a clean home and well maintain, just make sure they are informed when, how long the cleaning and agree on the price, who bear the cost, it should be fine.

Renting to Students, is there a clause for Mandatory Housekeeper?

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