!#1: Cheaper Motorcycle Gas Cans: April 2011

!: Landlords - Set and levy Rules For Your Tenants

Whether you own one rental asset or hundreds, either they're single-family homes or multiunit buildings, your rental bargain should comprise a clear list of the rules and regulations you expect your tenants to abide by, as well as what the consequences will be if they don't. The rules need to be reasonable, accepted for the property--for example, you don't need rules for pools or playgrounds if you don't have them--and specific enough to protect your interests.

Here are the general areas your rules and regulations should cover and some suggested policies:

- Maintenance. Tenants are responsible for letting you know on a timely basis when they have a maintenance need. Encourage tasteless sense: A drippy faucet can wait until general business hours, but a pipe bursting in the middle of the night requires immediate action. Typically apartment dwellers do not accomplish any of their own maintenance; however, it's not uncommon for single-family home renters to cope small maintenance items themselves. Be specific about what you expect from your tenants in this area, along with what expenses you will reimburse.

- Lawn care. If you have a multi-unit building, the landlord typically takes care of landscaping. But for single-family homes and some townhouse units, tenants may be responsible for lawn care. Your tenants need to know what is required of them in this area.

- Vehicles. For multi-unit buildings, you need parking policies. You may want to prescription specific spaces for each tenant and spaces for visitors. A good rule of thumb is one reserved space per bedroom. Stipulate what types of vehicles are allowed (typically cars, light trucks, and motorcycles) and what types are not allowed (such as motor homes, heavy-duty trucks, other market vehicles, or any unregistered vehicle such as scooters or Atvs).

Restrict what sort of maintenance can be performed on vehicles while they are parked on your premises. For example, you may allow interior cleaning; adding of fluids such as oil, antifreeze, and windshield washer fluid; tire changing; and replacement of small parts such as light bulbs and fuses. You may restrict face washing to a designated area or not allow it at all. Prohibit maintenance that could consequent in environmental or propertydamage, such as oil changes.

For single-family properties, you may want to limit the number of cars that can be commonly parked overnight and require parking only on concrete surfaces, not on the lawn. If the asset is in a city or municipality, your rules should indicate that the tenant must comply with any local laws concerning parking.

- Pets. Clearly state either or not you will allow pets and if so what kind. In addition to dogs and cats, remember to address small caged animals (hamsters, gerbils, other rodents, reptiles, and birds), fish, and non-traditional pets and livestock. Set policies for noise, cleaning up pet waste, and flea and tick control.

- Guests. State that tenants are responsible for the guide of their guests and if any guest violates your rules, the tenant will be held responsible and the guest may be banned from the property.

- Overnight visitors. To preclude having unauthorized residents constantly move in with your screened tenants, originate a procedure that whatever staying overnight in the unit for more than a designated time (perhaps a maximum of one week) must be added to the lease, subject to your accepted screening process.

- tasteless areas. Set rules for use of tasteless areas, such as recreational facilities, laundry rooms, parking lots, Storage units, and aid areas. Your rules should comprise hours of accessibility, permitted and prohibited activities, and clean-up requirements. Consider either you will allow tasteless areas to be used for private functions that would preclude other residents from using the facility at that time. For example, will you allow a playground to be reserved exclusively for a child's party or will you require that during the party other residents still be allowed to use the playground?

- Locks and keys. Do not permit the facility of added locks on residential units. Do not allow tenants to duplicate keys (use key blanks marked "do not duplicate"). Tenants should come to you for added keys. A fee to cover the cost of lost keys is reasonable.

- general conduct. Ban any threatening or criminal activity, collective intoxication, and any guide that would put other tenants or the asset at risk. Set uncostly restrictions on noise, such as noise above a general conversational level is forbidden after 9:00 p.m. And before 8:00 a.m.

- Fire safety. Prohibit tampering with smoke detectors and do not allow tenants to use non-electric space heaters or any gadget that requires an open flame other than a gas stove you have installed or candles in safe holders. Tenants should not use cooking stoves as room heaters.

- Trash collection. Be clear on when and how household refuse is to be disposed and either or not you offer recycling collection. If you have a dumpster, the business that provides it will set policies for its use. If tenants are responsible for getting their trash to the curb, be clear on when and how this must be done. Some cities require the use of specific containers, such as singular types of cans or bags.

In addition to setting rules, you should also originate penalties for violating those rules, such as fees, fines, and possibly eviction. Be reasonable--an after-hours use of the laundry room by an otherwise exemplary tenant would merit a easy reminder of the policy, but criminal activity could consequent in immediate eviction.

After you originate an accepted set of rules, have them reviewed by a real estate attorney. Furnish all prospective tenants with a copy of the rules with your rental application. Have them first each page of the rules and sign an acknowledgement that they have received and read the rules and agree to abide by them.

Clear, uncostly rules that are consistently and uniformly enforced will increase the petition of your properties, cut your tenant turnover, and make your life as a landlord much easier.