Mid Term Rental Lease & Supplies

[Lisa G.]

Hi,

I'm doing my first mid-term rental lease. The property has been a SRT for the past year so is fully furnished. Learning that this is a very different animal! 

First question, any suggestions of what to put in the lease in regards to damage to the furnishings?

Also, somewhat silly question. With the SRT we restock basic supplies between guests - toilet paper, paper towels, shampoo/body wash, laundry detergent. Does anyone also do that for their mid-term rentals? It seems odd to do that for a 3-month stay but not sure.

[John Underwood]

Quote from @Carolyn Fuller:

I don't have anything in my lease in regards to furnishings specifically. I use to collect a security deposit but decided it was more hassle than it was worth. The vast amount of damage is normal wear and tear. Beyond that, I remember being a hotel guest when I spilt a bottle of red wine on the room's bedding and the hotel didn't bat an eye. They did not charge me for damages. They considered it just part of doing business. I'm passing that treatment on to my tenants and guests. 

I supply enough supplies for the first 24 hours, a bar of hand soap, a roll of toilet paper, a roll of paper towels, and cleaning supplies. That's it.

This past year, I had a tenant who expected me to restock the cleaning supplies when they were consumed. That was a first and I've been renting 2 units as MTR for over 10 years. I told him that I only stocked the initial supplies and expected my tenants to do their own shopping thereafter. 

It is possible as more and more MTR tenants become use to Airbnb rentals that more will assume that I will keep them supplied in cleaning supplies. I'm hoping that is not case.

I would add this to the lease about starter supplies including cleaning products.

This will eliminate any question in the future. You can point them to the leaseif they are concerned. 

Great philosophy about the normal wear and tear.