Monday, February 10, 2014

Landlord Forms Help Tenants And Owners

By Matt Baumberger


Owning income property can be exciting but it is important that those in charge understand the basic legalities before entering an agreement. This protects both sides, as the details should be covered from the first contact. It helps to have as many landlord forms on hand as necessary so the prospective tenant may complete them.

When an ad is placed in a newspaper or other media, the calls can be a bit much to handle. When a prescreening prospect card is used, it can help determine a strong prospect. It is also the responsibility of the landlord to establish whether smoking is allowed. A no smoking addendum may be part of a lease agreement early on or added later on. This helps to protect the property from damage.

Property owners need to know who is residing in the unit that may not have an application. If pets are allowed, it is up to the landlord to determine the conditions in a pet agreement. It should be copied and signed by both parties while tenancy is in effect.

Tenants that leave their units vacant from time to time may want to consider leasing to someone else in their absence as a way to save money. The landlord should establish whether this is acceptable early on. Using a sub lease agreement will help all three parties understand what is to be expected.

Entering a rental property can be an unusual situation when the tenant is not present. While some landlords feel they should be able to enter at any time, often this is illegal and may inconvenience the tenant. By presenting a notice of intent to enter the premises to the tenant as early as possible, this may clear up some confusion. When the tenant completes a work order, a reasonable time may also be arranged between both parties.

When the tenant demonstrates behavior that is offensive to others, the property owner presents a lease violation notice. This may be used to warn or is the next step to evicting a tenant if the matter continues. Landlords may also present a notice to pay or quit when rent is late. This is the first step to a legal eviction if no other arrangements have been made.

While many of the forms cover serious issues, they are designed to protect the property owner. The more relevant, the stronger case either party will have should anyone need to go to court. Property owners that regularly use landlord forms find that there are fewer misunderstandings between them and their tenants.




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