LL - what do you add to your lease?

[JONOV]

Originally Posted by toopie28

Ok, well looks like I am covered as much as I can be for CA.

Couple of things though - how do you determine that tenant caused clogs? I had an issue in which the drain was clogged - hair (yuk). Anyway, took care of it BUT I do think it was due to the current tenant since the daughter has long hair and I KNOW they do not use one of those drain thingys.

Another thing - regarding my last tenant - after 6 months, all of a sudden there were ants. There has never been ants in all the years I lived there so I also know that it's due to tenant since she had a dog and he and ants loved his doggie biscuits. But then I paid for pest control (she was a great tenant and I didn't mind). But for the future - how can you determine that tenant caused it?

You can't, unless you see the ants swarming to something specifically left by the tenant. And I don't understand how doggy biscuits are any different than a box of cheese-its or cereal? I mean, if she's messy, then you can guess that she is the reason that there are ants. The ants could be a result of her housekeeping, but they could just be there.

[toopie28]

Originally Posted by STT Resident

There are lots of things which happen that you can't lump onto the tenant. Obviously something like a kid's toy sucked out of the plumbing when the tenant has toddlers is pretty obvious but if a tenant's long hair is clogging up a drain because there's no "drain thingy" then install a "drain thingy"! Ants come and go depending on where you live and if you live somewhere where you have critters then have an exterminator come over on a regular basis to treat the property. It's all part of landlording and general maintenance.

Ok, that makes sense. When I was a tenant, the other apt clogged the toilet - kids toy. We all got a letter telling us that we would be responsible for any clogs (this was about 15 yrs ago).

The drain thingy is provided when tenants go into the house. It can be removed.

Originally Posted by JONOV

You can't, unless you see the ants swarming to something specifically left by the tenant. And I don't understand how doggy biscuits are any different than a box of cheese-its or cereal? I mean, if she's messy, then you can guess that she is the reason that there are ants. The ants could be a result of her housekeeping, but they could just be there.

Well, as I said she was a great tenant - loved her and she was very, very messy. She actually mentioned it was due to her dog since she left his food by the back patio. Again, at the time I did not mind so paid to have it sprayed.

Anyway, good to know.

Thanks.

[CarlitosBala]

You really should have your lease tailored by a lawyer specifically for you, your localities and your properties.

Outside of that, one thing I never see mentioned is to add a line that says that "in the event that a clause in this lease is found to not be enforceable, the same shall not apply to the entirety of the lease".

Even if its overkill, it never hurts to have that.