Peachtree City, GA · Member since 2013 · 60 posts · 1 vote
Should I tell tenants that it behooves them to notify me of a water leak immediately as it costs them money too? From what I've experienced and observed, water is the biggest source of damage to a home. I would like to prevent water damage as much and as soon as possible.
Should I consider giving flowers or some other welcome gift to new tenants?
Am I responsible in any way for tenants dealing drugs or growing marijuana in one of my properties?
Real Estate Investor · Hampton, VA · Member since 2012 · 562 posts · 109 votes
13y
Brian W. Yes your tenants should notify you as soon as they notice any water leaks, gas /electrical problems and it should be documented in your lease, regarding how you would like to be notified (phone call/text) and who would be accountable and responsible for payment in the case of negligence (example: plumbing problem, plumber finds paper towels/toys in the toilet which has clogged up the sewer line-are you willing to absorb that cost?)
The most I have done for a new tenant was leave some extra cleaning supplies which was left over from the cleaning prior to the new tenant move in, not sure about the flowers (which could be taken the wrong way).
Don't think you would be responsible if your tenants are involved in illegal activity if you don't know, if you do know then you should report it to authorities.
Investor · SE, MI · Member since 2013 · 1k+ posts · 461 votes
13y
Hi Brian,
Andrea's right, I just wanted to add a couple of things.
I have in my leases that the tenants must notify me of any water leaks like she said, you also may want to include that they must notify you of any posted messages from your municipality. For example, the city where I invest might post a warning about the lawn not being cared for, sidewalks not shoveled, trash pick up not handled properly. I can get fined for these items if they aren't corrected within a certain time frame. If I don't know about it, I can't correct it, and if it is a tenant issue (they are responsible for the trash) then they get the fine passed along to them.
On drugs, my lease states they will be evicted if there is evidence of illegal drug activity. If they want to grow marijuana legally, they must notify me, get liability insurance and follow the laws or be evicted.
Rental Property Investor · Northern, CA · Member since 2012 · 5k+ posts · 5k+ votes
13y
Of course you want to know about a water leak as soon as possible. Water can damage almost anything in a home if not dealt with properly (and quickly).
As for your tenant's dealing drugs from your property, you actually could be held liable. Not criminally, but you could potentially be civilly liable for allowing a neighborhood nuisance.
In one high profile case near me, a city actually issued sanctions against the owners of an apartment complex for allowing drug dealing (and other nuisance behavior) to go on, and ended up shutting down the complex with an abatement action when the problem wasn't properly addressed.
That's a worse case sceneario, but it goes to show why you shouldn't allow this type of behavior to occur on your property.
Tucson, AZ · Member since 2013 · 116 posts · 22 votes
13y
I heard the feds may contact a landlord and say MJ is being grown in your house . . . if you don't stop them immediately, they could take your house.
If they're dealing drugs and you know it, you can get into trouble.
I warn my tenants in the lease to report water leaks . . . at the rental property even a garden hose set to soak can be heard. One time the toilet was leaking into the tank and I was astonished at how stupid the tenants were (one of them was on Dean's List at University) . . . didn't know about it until I got the water bill.