Tip of the Month - March, 2019
Inspect and Photograph the Unit
Using a Landlord-Tenant Checklist
Source: Leases & Rental Agreements-11th Edition
BY-Marcia Stewart, Ralph Warner, J.D.,-Attorney Janet Portman
To eliminate the
possibility of all sorts of future arguments, it is absolutely
essential that you and/or your prospective tenants check the place over
for damage and obvious wear and tear before the tenant moves in. Tip
from Crossett Real Estate: the rental unit/property should be “rent
ready” prior to any showings-the entire space being rented
(garage/yard,etc.) should be photographed or a video including but not
limited to date taken placed in your file.
A landlord-tenant checklist, inventorying the condition of the rental
property at the beginning and end of the tenancy, is an excellent
device to protect both you and your tenant when the tenant moves out
and wants the security deposit returned. Without some record as
to the condition of the unit, the tenant is all too likely to make
unreasonable demands. Tip from
Crossett Real Estate: take photos of all appliances, all lighting-bulbs
should be in place and working, a smoke alarm-carbon monoxide alarm
addendums in place and working-all utilities working and transferred in
tenants name (if applicable.)
The checklist will provide good evidence as to why you withheld all or
part of a security deposit. Coupled with a system to regularly keep
track of the rental property's condition, the checklist will also be
extremely useful to you if a tenant withholds rent, breaks the lease,
moves out or sues you outright, claiming the unit needs substantial
repairs. You can download form on the Nolo website.