Cleanliness Counts with Tenants You Want
It's move-in day! The apartment looks almost new — it has been fixed up, painted, and cleaned so well that everything looks spotless and smells fresh.
The plumbing works, hot and cold water run through the taps, and there's electricity and heat.
The building is structurally sound; the entrance, stairs, yard, and porch are clean and uncluttered with trash. There are no rodent or insect infestations and the garbage area is tidy and won't attract them.
Your tenant expects you to keep the property that way. But state and local officials make it a requirement. If there are any housing violations that affect the health and safety of tenants and their guests, public officials can impose fines. In extreme cases of neglect, they can shut down your building.
Let your tenant know that if he puts food away right after a meal, keeps counters clean, rinses out bottles and cans, and takes out trash regularly instead of letting it collect in the kitchen, most bug and rodent problems can be avoided.
State housing laws and local building codes place a burden on landlords to repair and maintain their property so that tenants are not exposed to hazardous or unhealthy conditions. You should want that, too, because anything less might lead to a liability suit.
If you discover anything in the apartment that might be unsafe, fix it immediately. Keep stairs safe by nailing down loose boards and replacing broken treads. Fix frayed wiring and cords. Repair leaky faucets. Exterminate insects and rodents as soon as you know there's a problem and waterproof wet areas to discourage mold and mildew from forming.
