Re: OMG! my townhouse is in terrible condition!!

Re: OMG! my townhouse is in terrible condition!! by Katiekate (New York) on May 21, 2017 @16:54

Oh my, Never rent to college kids and then leave them alone. I always have someone around the property every couple weeks. Honestly, I sometimes wonder how these kids managed to pass the SATs with decent scores and not know to take the trash out.

Anyway, Make sure you stay on top of them. Whenever you find a mess or damage...fix it right away and bill them. Seriously, you can post a "cure or quit" over the dirty conditions. (Make sure you have pictures). Nothing fixes that problem faster than the idea that they could be out of Housing ... especially when you look at the cost of that tuition.

I have been renting to college kids for years. It works rather welll...but... Stay on top of them. You are the new "house Mom".

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Re: OMG! my townhouse is in terrible condition!! by Sahara (NJ) on May 21, 2017 @17:40	[ Reply ]

Gary n Katie, you are right! hope I learn from this lesson. At least the local kids have a fear of landlord reference history. But these kids being international students don't have to worry about that. Thanks for your input.

Re: OMG! my townhouse is in terrible condition!! by Anonymous on May 21, 2017 @18:18	[ Reply ]

True enough, international students are gone.... But, get to them bi-weekly. They do fear being put out mid semester

Re: OMG! my townhouse is in terrible condition!! by Anonymous on May 22, 2017 @09:24	[ Reply ]

Katie and others, do you have a section in the lease saying that you will inspect the house time to time? Assume that you need to give them notice ahead of time? can you give me some examples? I'm just trying to make this a serious part of the lease. thanks

Re: OMG! my townhouse is in terrible condition!! by Garry on May 22, 2017 @10:10	[ Reply ]

Most state laws do not address inspections by either landlords or city inspectors. They leave it up to you to police your own property. Yes, you can have a clause in your lease about inspections, including dates or frequency, what you will be looking for, how much notice you will give the T, etc. Once every 3-6 months should be frequent enough to know how people are living, without the tenants saying to you that you are harassing them. Just remember, once it's in your lease, then you must follow through with your inspections. or you risk breaking your own lease provisions. And no matter what words are in anyone's lease, those words are not likely to change how a person lives, or their habits. As you have just seen, you had a provision in your lease about cleanliness, and these particular Ts broke that-----other Ts may not. If it makes you "feel good", then by all means, put something in there about inspections.

Re: OMG! my townhouse is in terrible condition!! by sahara (NJ) on May 22, 2017 @11:37	[ Reply ]

Thanks G Yes I will put some phrases about inspection in the lease. Also keep it "at LL's discretion" so I will have the flexibility if I want.

Re: OMG! my townhouse is in terrible condition!! - Landlord Forum thread 352284