This article is topical now. In a month or two, it will require rewriting. Today, there are issues that we are all confronting. So here it is, Rent.
Tenants know they must pay rent if they want to stay in their homes. Owners know that they must make their mortgage payments if they want to keep their rental properties.
It serves no one for a tenant not to pay and for an owner to fall into foreclosure then the tenant has no place to go and still has to repay the rent.
What to do? This is time for tenants to reach into their savings, borrow from their parents and other but more than anything to be creative. Perhaps a part time job that is allowed e.g. working at Walmart or driving for Amazon.
Fortunately, tenants who are managed by Gulf Coast Property Management will be permitted to use their credit cards to pay their rent. Tenants can then obtain a delay from the credit card company for payments.
Nothing is forgiven, that is a key point. If a tenant is working, there is no reason why rent is not paid and paid on time. This is critical for property owners.
I could go on with more on the subject but an article on our strategic partner site is more complete and provides good information for both tenants and property owners. Please click on the link below:
We want our tenants to be comfortable in the propeties that we lease. Leasing is a partnership between the property management company and the one tenant. Both parties help each other to keep the property in good condition so that the expectation at the signing of the least continues.
There are rules and there are rules. Tenants are required to agree to certain rules when they sign the lease. The list of rules generally contains details about parking, maintenance and other communal living arrangements particularly for multi-family homes. Rules for single family homes are different and detail obligations such as landscaping.
In this blog, I want to talk about the “other” rules, those things that most of us learned from our parents while we were growing up. Some times theses rules get lost in the effort of just daily living. This blog will review the old rules and refresh them for todays living. Please review this blog as it will help improve the quality of life at our properties for everyone.
NEIGHBORS
Meeting your neighbors can help you in many ways. If you need help with a dead battery, they are playing loud music etc., you will feel comfortable talking with them rather than calling the police. You can help each other in many ways. For example, you are going out of town for a few days, ask your neighbor to keep watch on your unit.
Even if your age difference is large e.g. you are 25 and your neighbor is 65, ou can learn from your more experienced neighbor and your more experienced neighbor can enjoy your company. So for many reasons, including security, it’s good to know your neighbors even if you do not become best friends.
NOISE
You may be tolerant of a high volume level for listing to music or talking for example. As people get older however, their tolerance for loud music and other noise grows in part because it is difficult for them to hear with the background noise around them.
Out of courtesy you should keep your noise volume to a lower what most people would believe is reasonable. If you have to yell over the noise it’s probably too loud. If you live in a multi-family property, ask the neighbor if the sound is bothering them. That’s a great idea as this will help you in your relationship with your neighbors as mentioned above.
INSECTS
We all live with insects, some are beneficial like bees and some are simply “gross” like roaches. You can help yourself keep unwanted insects from your home by following good housekeeping principals as discussed below.
Keep food off the floor and counter tops. Clean up as soon after eating as possible. Clear plates, rinses them and place them into the dishwasher if you have one, if not clean the dishes soon after the meal. Roaches and ants are the worst pests regarding food. They only come around if there are sources of food.
Ants on Cat food place, example of food lett
If you have children, be sure to clean up around where they eat. Restrict their eating to areas that are easy to clean such as hard floors. Refrain from having food in bedrooms with carpets.
Close your doors after entering. Turn off lights on the porch before opening doors at night.
Let the property manager know if you damage a screen as insects will enter that way.
Close your trash continuers in the house and outside. You should invest in self closing interior trash containers with bags. This will prevent insects from going into your kitchen trash. It’s very important that you place any food and food containing trash into your bin and be sure it is closed.
Spray your outside trash bin with flying insect spray if it has been opened and there are flies around. Clean the surface around the bin. Food can leak through the holes at the bottom inviting ants and flies.
Keep vegetation away from the house through property gardening maintenance. If you are responsible for outdoor gardening keep up with it. Insects live in tall grass and in areas with decomposing vegitations. Call the manager if you live in a multi-family home and find the gutters clogged or the gardening was not done properly.
Do not leave beer and soft drink containers around your house or yard, they will almost certainly attract files or at worst ants and roaches. Disposes of them after they are empty. If for some reason you are saving bottles or cans that contained beer or sugar soft drinks, rinse them before storing.
Our properties are inspected for insects before they are rented and treated if we find them. There is no reason for an infestation of ants or roaches in a property if the units are kept clean as mentioned above. You may be charged for insect removal if we determine it’s your fault.
PARKING
All of our properties have sufficient parking for residents and some have parking for a few guests. Please do not park in spots designated for your neighbors without their permission. Inform your guests of the same. The last thing we want to do is to tow a car.
Car parked on lawn not permitted
Do not park on the lawn or sidewalk. If you must park in the street be careful that you are not blocking a neighbors drive way. Be aware of school bus restrictions on street parking.
GUESTS
Almost everyone has guests from time to time and that’s perfectly fine. It’s your home. Be sure that your guests follow the rules both the written ones and the ones on this list. Remember, a guest is someone who comes for a short time and leaves. Your lease does not permit long term stays by individuals not on the lease. It also prohibits you from receiving payment for “guests” to stay at your home.
Some guests want to stay too long
If you have a close relative who will be staying with you for a short time but stretching the definition of “short” such as a month, contact the property manager. Depending upon the situation and the property this may or may not be permitted. If you give a key to a guest and that guest causes damage or theft of property, you are fully responsible. If you require a lock change you will be charged for it.
INTERIOR CARE
VACUUM
Do not attempt to spot clean the carpet or hard surface with bleach or any harsh product that will itself leave a stain or wear the carpet. Contact the property manager if you need assistance selecting the property chemicals.
You are responsible for caring for the property that was leased to you. This means you are expected to vacuum the carpet at least once per month. You should vacuum once each week. For some reason, I find that many tenants fail to vacuum and as a result they lose their deposit. If you spill something on the carpet, go to a hardware store and rent a carpet cleaning machine and clean the carpet.
BATH ROOM
Bath tubs and showers require frequent cleaning. The grout will grow mould if it is not cleaned regularly. Contact the property manager for the correct products to use when cleaning showers and bath tubs.
FLOORS
Tile floors with grout require cleaning and sealing. You should mop tile floors on a regular basis and be sure to get into the grout. Often sugar drinks will lodge in the grout and this requires work to remove.
OVEN
Follow instructions for cleaning your electric oven. Some of the ovens are “self cleaning”. This does not mean that they will not need some cleaning. If you run the “self cleaning” cycle, you will still have to remove the residual carbon. Be sure to lift out the burners and clean under them to prevent insects. If you have a glass top simply wipe down the top with soap and water while the range is turned off.
REFRIGERATOR
Your refrigerator can build up mould on the gaskets on the doors. You need to wipe down the door moulding at least one per month. Keep the shelves clean as well. Remove old food the morning of trash collection day or perhaps the night before and throw it into the bin with the lid closed.
AIR CONDITIONING/MOULD
In a humid climate something must be done to prohibit materials that the property was constructed of from absorbing too much moisture and developing mould. You can prevent this by keeping surfaces clean and by running air conditioning.
Mould on walls
You can set the thermostat at 80 degrees inside the home when you are not there during the summer. You can run the fan only during other times of the year even in the summer but the AC is better.
A de-humidifier works well for second floor homes. Humid air rises to the second floor where it can be captured by a dehumidifier. Buy one that has a hose that can be placed into a tub, toilet or sink to prevent the tank from being filled and shutting off. If you have a de-humdifier be absolutely sure that it has a working shut off valve or you can flood your unit.
If mould developes, treat it immediately with a very diluted amount of bleach and warm water. If you have never done this before, contact the preopty manager for instructions or watch this video: MOULD REMOVAL
MODIFICATIONS TO UNIT
Generally tenants are prohibited from modifying a unit. Hanging photos and art are usually permitted. This helps you personalize your home. The 3M company now makes hooks that can be put on a wall without nails and you can take them with you when you leave.
You can find the COMMAND hooks at Lowes and other hardware stores. Check out their website: COMMAND HOOKS
If you want to paint your unit, you must contact the property manager for approval. The color of paint you use must be compatible with the property if approved. You will be responsible for any over spray or spilling on to floors, base boards, counters etc.
CABLE TV/INTERNET/SATELLITE
Everyone needs access to the web. Most now use the internet to access TV. Regardless, to obtain a connection your unit must have a wired connection to a router at minimum. Most units already have connections in the unit.
You are not permitted to install any satellite dishes, cables or wires without the permission of the property manager. This is very important as the installers could damage the property and you would be responsible. Reasonable accommodation will be made but in no event will wires be exposed outside or inside of the building.
type of damaged from satellite dish
You are not permitted to punch holes into the wall to extend cables. You should obtain wireless devices that will run from your router eliminating the need for interior wires.
EXTERIOR MAINTENANCE
Your property was in good condition when you leased it. The entrance, yard and other outside areas were well maintained. It is important that you keep up the maintenance if you are living in a single family home. Individuals living in multi-family homes are also required to keep the area around the property clear of debris.
This means no cigarette buts or cigarette burns on the property. Keep trash away from the entrance such as beverage bottles and food wrappers. In addition to the insect issues described above, it degrades the athletics of the property. Most people like properties that are clean and neat.
Keep trash cans where they are supposed to be away from the street and public view as you were instructed when the lease was signed. This is an area where not everyone is in agreement. You can drive around some neighborhoods and see trash all around. Old cars and appliances in the yard.
The point is not to make a value judgement on others, it is to tell you that our properties are offered based upon our standards of cleanliness and orderliness. You have agreed to follow our standards.
SMOKING
Smoking is not permitted inside our homes. Aside from the medical issues which are not our concern per se, cigarette can and do leave odors which only repainting and an expensive cleaning can remove. Even window treatments absorb the tar from smoking. Smoking can cause fires and the insurance on the property may require the property owner to lease only to individuals who will not smoke inside the property.
cigarette butts a mess
If you are a smoker, smoke outside in an area where the smoke and tar will not affect the property or neighbors. Do not discard cigarette buts. Do not throw buts into the trash can until you know absolutely they are cold.
BUSINESS ACTIVITY
The properties that we manage are residential. Tenants are not permitted to use them for business purposes. There are however exceptions when the tenant is an at home professional that has meetings off site. Real estate agents, internet businesses and some others are acceptable. What is not acceptable is a business that requires storage of inventory at the home with unacceptable truck traffic delivering and picking up packages.
If you have any doubt, please contact the property manager before you engage in a business run from our property.
COMMUNICATION
Keep in touch with the property manager. We love suggestions and recommendations. Let us know how we can improve our property and add to your enjoyment of the property. Any issues with neighbors, crime, trash etc. please contact the property manager.
