Responsibilities of a Good Tenant
Building a strong landlord-tenant relationship is essential if you want your address to remain unchanged in the long run. While there are certain traits that define a good landlord and will help you identify a good one, you also need to play your part and ensure that you perform all the responsibilities of a good tenant to maintain this relationship smoothly.
In order to become a responsible tenant, you need to know just what you’re signing up for. Unfortunately, one of the biggest mistakes when renting a house is not reading the rental agreement while signing it.
UNDERSTAND AND UPHOLD THE TERMS OF YOUR LEASE
A rental agreement contains a lot of fine print. It includes terms and conditions on how the house is supposed to be maintained, how frequently the house will be inspected by the landlord, how far in advance should you notify the landlord in case you are considering moving out of the property, and so on.
Go through the rental agreement multiple times if needed and question your landlord/service provider on particular terms or conditions that you do not understand. You need to know just what is expected from you, in order to perform your duties as a tenant in the best manner. The tenant is duty bound to follow all the rules and regulations as stated in the bye-laws of their housing society of residence. A tenant does not have the authority to sublet their apartment units in case of non-occupancy.
PAY YOUR RENTAL DUES ON TIME
A smooth landlord-tenant relationship hinges on timely payment of the rent. The best way to fulfil this responsibility is to set aside the rental amount every month from your paycheque even before the rent is due. The rental agreement will have the cut-off date by which the rental has to be paid to the owner every month. Keep a note of the same.
COMMUNICATE ANY UNTIMELY DELAYS IN rent PAYMENT
It is the foremost duty of a tenant to always maintain a clean line of communication with their owner to avoid any misunderstandings. If the rentals cannot be paid on time, it’s best that the same is communicated to the landlord at the earliest. Most rental property owners are understanding about occasional delays in payments as long as you’re not doing it every month and have a genuine reason for missing a rental payment.
However, in such a scenario, do communicate a realistic timeline for when you will be able to pay the rent and do your best to maintain that commitment to strengthen your relationship with the landlord.
CO-operation with society and neighbours
Tenants need to have a good relationship with the owner of the rental unit, but that’s not all. The tenant must show a spirit of cooperation with their neighbours. They should not undertake any activities that shall cause unnecessary distress to their neighbours like loud parties, transactions of questionable activities, or misbehaviour.
KEEP THE property CLEAN AND TIDY
One of the major responsibilities of a good tenant is to ensure that the rental property is well maintained. This includes keeping the place clean and tidy, communicating any maintenance issues to the landlord in a timely manner, and being aware of rental inspections that might be held on a monthly or quarterly basis, depending on your rental contract.
DON’T DAMAGE THE LANDLORD’S BELONGINGS
Like any other resident, the tenant too is responsible to not cause any intentional damage to the common or private property. In case of unintentional damage, they must own up to the responsibility to fix it.
NOTIFY YOUR LANDLORD IN ADVANCE WHEN YOU MOVE OUT
notifying the rental property owner well in advance about their change of residence. This is done to ensure that the property owner has plenty of time to find a tenant for their property and is not left with a vacancy upon your sudden departure. You might be required to give a month’s, three months, or even a six months notice, depending on the rental agreement you signed with the owner of the property.
RETURN THE RENTAL PROPERTY IN GOOD CONDITION
Towards the approaching end of the agreement and in the event there’s no intention of renewal, the tenant must inform the owner 30 days or according to the terms specified in the rental agreement before vacating the property. The tenant must physically hand over the keys to the owner after an inspection of the property has been completed in the presence of both parties.
These are just a few of the core responsibilities of a good tenant that can help you maintain a strong landlord-tenant relationship, which will not only make it easier to live in the current unit for the duration of the tenancy but also help you get good referrals for renting a property in the future.
It is really quite simple to rent out your apartment. And tenancy can be a great way of ensuring your property becomes a regular income asset for you. On the upside, you also get to meet a variety of new people from all over the world. Follow the laws, know of verification processes, make the lessee aware of the rights and duties of tenants, and keep a clear channel of communication and you shall find tenancy is a rather easy, peaceful and profitable investment to make.
