There are boilerplate lease documents all over the internet. It might only take a landlord a single search to locate and download documents that they can execute with new tenants. However, those documents may not actually offer adequate protection.
They may not conform to unique state and local laws regulating rental properties. They may include unclear language that doesn’t properly protect the landlord. It is often in a new landlord’s best interest to create custom lease paperwork that reflects their intentions as a landlord.
The inclusion of unique terms in lease documents can be beneficial for landlords who worry about their exposure when signing a new lease. What unique terms do landlords often choose to integrate into leases?
Rules for certain fees
Landlords in Ohio typically collect a security deposit to protect against unpaid rent and damage to a unit. There are strict rules regarding the management of the security deposit and limiting how much landlords charge. They may also want to add certain other fees to their rental arrangements including cleaning fees and pet fees. Additional fees can be a way to address expenses that tenants generate or risks that they pose for a landlord’s property.
Restrictions on guests
It is surprisingly easy for tenants to abuse the good faith of a landlord who sees the best in people. They might allow friends and romantic partners to move in with them without having that person apply or adjusting the rent to reflect additional wear to the unit or increase utility consumption. Landlords often add terms to leases limiting the number of consecutive nights visitors can stay or the number of guests who can sleep over at one time. Imposing reasonable limitations could help landlords avoid surging expenses and unnecessary property damage.
Expectations for maintenance
In many scenarios, such as cases where landlords own multi-unit buildings, it is standard for the landlord to assume responsibility for all major repairs and facility maintenance. However, having a tenant handle some forms of maintenance can be a reasonable expectation in certain scenarios. For example, if a tenant rents an entire house or half of a duplex, the landlord might require that they contribute to lawn maintenance or snow and ice removal from the driveway during the winter months. By including expectations for any tenant maintenance in the actual lease, landlords can avoid scenarios in which they end up liable for issues caused by a tenant’s failure to maintain the space where they live.
The creation of customized rental agreements can help landlords maximize their protection when initiating new lease arrangements. Carefully created or recently modified documents often extend more protection than basic documents downloaded from the internet.