Some Primary Responsibilities of Tenants and Landlords Regarding Rental Homes

Both tenants and landlords have their share of responsibilities after making agreements concerning rental houses. Most are straightforward and logical. Some rental agreements or leases may specify other duties and responsibilities negotiated by the parties, but the following are typically the primary duties of both parties. Tenant responsibilities:

• Pay the rent when due and in full. This is a critical responsibility that should be fulfilled at all times. Should problems arise that threaten this duty, inform your landlord immediately and work out some resolution.
• Maintain your rental property. Assuming your rental home was delivered in a clean and sanitary fashion, maintain its condition and appearance. If repairs are needed, inform your landlord immediately so small problems can be fixed before they become major projects.
• Keep noise and other neighbor intrusions at a minimum. In addition to keeping your dinner parties focused on dinner and not loud music, this means also resisting the urge to use your vacuum cleaner at 3:30 in the morning or mowing the lawn at 1:00 a.m.
• Notify your landlord if you’ll be away for an extended vacation or other reason . This allows the property owner to check on the property while it is essentially vacant.

Landlord responsibilities:

• Allow your tenants peace, quiet, and the uninterrupted enjoyment of rental houses. Use your right to gain access wisely and considerately. With the possible exception of rental property emergencies, provide your tenants sufficient notice of your need to enter the rental home.
• Always comply with building and health codes. In addition to a deteriorating tenant relationship, non-compliance with local codes can become very expensive for you.
• When repairs are needed, complete them quickly. Being a good landlord also means being a smart landlord. Small repairs, if neglected, tend to become major restoration projects which also tend to be very expensive.

Both parties should be committed to fulfilling all the terms of the rental agreement or lease completely. You’ve both agreed to them in writing and should be prepared to complete all expected responsibilities.