Are you planning to put up your unit for rent? While renting a house is one of the most convenient ways to earn money, you should also prepare yourself to face extra challenges during the process. Being a tenant is not a piece of cake, especially if you have never done this before. Contrary to the popular beliefs, the responsibilities of the tenant are not just confined to selecting a tenant, making an agreement and gathering monthly rent. They are also held responsible for maintaining the property as well as the tenants.
Put simply, being a tenant is a full-time job that necessitates persistence, consideration and prudence. It comes with a lot of different duties. Whether you are planning to put your 2 BHK flats for sale in South Mumbai on rent or luxury flats in Byculla, read this article to know some of your most important legal and ethical duties. Continue reading!
Providing a Safe Environment
Since your dwelling is the safest place in the world, you should provide the same feeling to your tenant as well. Resultantly, as a landlord, it is your duty to make sure that your property is totally secure. Ensure that all the doors and windows have proper locks that can never be opened from the outside. Similarly, you should add a deadbolt lock in the front doors apart from having a regular handle or doorknob. It is also pertinent to change the locks once you give the property to the new tenant.
In case you own a building and have multiple tenants, ensure that each of them possesses the keys of their apartment only; they cannot enter into somebody else’ portion or unit without their permission. Furthermore, without the tenant’s supervision, never let any electrician, plumber or other repairmen enter the room. This could not only increase the chances of potential robbery but also make your tenant feel uncomfortable and uneasy.
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You should keep the outside of the house as safe as the inside. The area outside the home and the car parking should be secure and well-lit. Therefore, broken fences, unstable railings, and dented staircases must be fixed as early as possible. In this way, you can avoid any unpleasant accidents.
Ensuring Peace and Cleanliness
Apart from providing a safe environment to the tenant, ensuring a clean and peaceful area is yet another duty of the tenant.
It doesn’t matter whether you own a building or only renting the portion of your property, it is vital to set some rules and limitations. For instance, keep a strict policy regarding loud music and noises after 10 pm or everybody should dump their waste properly.
Certainly, you are not responsible for making any person clean and tidy but it is your duty to keep your property free of garbage. Therefore, you need to check that the stairwells and hallways are mopped and swept regularly, and all outdoor areas are spick and span. t
In case the property becomes the victim of bugs, termite, or rodent infestation, you should hire an exterminator to take care of the problem so as to avoid problems in the future.
Ideally, any responsible landlord would clarify all these things with potential tenants during the time of the agreement. Inquire them if they can follow your instructions before drafting a final rental agreement and signing below the dotted line.
Replying to Maintenance Requests
Property maintenance and repairs are part of the responsibilities of the landlord as well as the tenant. While many tenancy agreements have the instructions in detail, many tenants believe that it is the sole responsibility of the landlords.
This is a half-truth. There are two types while maintaining a rental property -interiors and exteriors. It is the duty of the tenant to fix the interior damages including replacing broken furniture, fixing broken appliances that came with the property, and repainting the walls whenever needed.
On the other hand, a landlord is responsible for replacing burst pipes, fixing broken steps, repairing any cracks in the walls, and other dealing with structural damages. It is also pertinent for landlords to respond to the calls of maintenance and repair immediately. In case of severe damage, take the help of a professional.
In a nutshell, whether you own one of the sea view apartments In Mumbai or a lavish flat in Thane for rent, you should know your duties as a landlord. In this way, you can streamline the whole process.