Can someone please upload a good Student-Landlord Lease (contract)?

Question

I know they vary for each property, but at least the basics to make sure I"m not missing anything? I don't want to re-invent the wheel. There are certain things students related to student problems etc.

thank you,

christian

thank you,

christian

Colleen F. · Answer

A good student lease contains much of what any good lease does  but  there are some special issues to address with students.  Our lease includes consequences related to our local party ordinance and police action, co-signers, and lawn and snow responsibility.

A good place to look for special issues is commuter housing of your local university, they have an example lease typical on the off campus housing website.  It is a starting point for knowing what is accepted locally.

Go over the lease at move in. I usually do this in more detail with student tenants and inform them of the garbage removal and maintenance we expect. You are their landlord but I find myself having to tell them some things that I don't have to tell adult tenants (broken glass and beer bottles need to be disposed of properly and trash goes out every week !) . Another thing I haven't had to use is the cleaning clause although it is in our leases. We can bring in a cleaner and charge you for it.

Curtis Bidwell · Answer

We are just about a mile from Evergreen State College ("save the planet, trash my apartment").  When we purchased the complex there were a lot of students and a lot of problems.  We immediately required parents as co-signer on all new leases.  Most of our problems disappeared, both financial and behavioral! Just knowing there is another measure of accountability cures many issues before they happen.

Bill S. · Answer

@Christian Lincoln I don't rent to students but would offer some advise.

Make sure "your lawyer" is a landlord tenant lawyer. Real Estate law is a broader practice than landlord tenant law. Find the lawyers that do 95% of all evictions in your jurisdiction. There will be two or three names that account for almost all evictions. Pick one of them to be your representation for landlord tenant issues. They will have a standard lease. Get that.

Next, make your rounds to the big box complexes that cater to students. See if you can't get your hands on a copy of their leases. After you look at all their leases, the next step is to cut and paste. Know that your landlord tenant attorney has you covered for the law but that is really a small piece of a good lease. The rest is tenant management. Your lease is the first step in that process and a good lease goes well beyond the bounds of law to give you the tools to profitably manage your property.

Happy hunting.

Christian Lincoln · Answer

Emily, that's a great idea.

Emily Du Plessis · Answer

On the same topic of party ordinances, by Colleen, be sure to check out other local ordinances in the town or boro you are investing in and be sure to include them in your lease.  For example, the area we are investing in with student rentals has ordinances with the types of furniture that can be used outside.  Common sense to adults, but not so much to students.

Christian Lincoln · Answer

Thanks @Colleen F  and Jermaine.  That's good about police stuff.  Yes there is a lot of that in this town, so nipping that in the bud would be good.  And adding the common sense stuff, as they ARE messy.  okay.  Gotcha.  I'll talk to my lawyer about it.  He doesn't seem to have one, but he's going to ask someone.

JERMAINE LUCAS · Answer

hay chris jermaine here, a rental lease is not we just get from someone, we go to our attorney and have him create lease for us, a well structured lease will save you thousands

Can someone please upload a good Student-Landlord Lease (contract)?

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