04.20.2001 :: Rental News
The Rental Connection: Tenant Tips
by Rita Law

Understand Your Rights and Responsibilities

Tenants are responsible too. As new Tenants moving into a property, the property must be presented to you in a clean manner, free of pests, plumbing works, heating functioning and electrical safe and functioning.

Smoke Detectors

The property should have smoke detectors near bedrooms and kitchens and the batteries should be working. HOWEVER, after Tenant moves in, IT IS YOUR RESPONSIBILTY to test the batteries in the smoke alarms periodically to make sure that they are working and replace batteries when needed. It is your reponsibilty to keep your premises safe. DON'T GAMBLE ON THIS, LANDLORD OR LAWS CAN'T PROTECT YOU IF YOU ARE NEGLIGENT!

Insurance

Insurance is another way to protect yourselves as tenants. Renters insurance is fairly inexpensive and protects your belongings from theft and damage. Damage not caused through the fault of Landlord. Don't look to Landlord to bail you out on this one either. Their insurance typically covers liability, the structure of the building, and appliances, carpets and window coverings if they are included.

Landscape & Gardening

This is an item that is usually explained in your lease agreement. If you are responsible for the landscape and gardening, to what extent. What are your duties? Must you do all of the gardening, watering and weeding? Water only? Is there a gardening service included? Is the gardener doing all of the maintenance or are you required to do partial maintenance?

If you have any questions regarding your lease agreement or something is not explained in depth in your lease, question the Landlord and have it explained more clearly in writing.

REMEMBER, EVERYTHING AND ALL AGREEMENTS MUST BE IN WRITING. Verbal agreements get misconstrued, forgotten or conveniently misplaced in our minds.

Gutters

Gutters are an area that is debatable. Our company's procedures are that we have the gutters cleaned every year before the rainy season to prevent leaks. This protects the Landlord's property and the Landlord picks up the bill. It is a maintenance item. However, if you are physically able to clean the gutters for the Landlord, it makes for a good relationship and bargaining chip if you need one. Feel free to let you Landlord know when you do something above and beyond your actual responsibilities. They will appreciate it and may remember that it when rent increases are due.

Fireplaces

These are another of those questionable items. If you use your fireplace all of the time, you should have it cleaned at least once a year. However, this is a subject that you can bring up to your Landlord for negotiation. Flue fires are very dangerous and you can be blamed for not caring for the fireplace in a safe manner. OR, notify your Landlord that it is time to clean the fireplace and see if he or she will do it to protect the property. Cleaning fireplaces is not a legal action required by the Landlord.

Stay tuned for articles on:
Landlord tips and responsibility
Snippits on rent control
Lead base paint disclosures
Megan's law
Interest on deposit ordinances

Rita Law is President of Kendall & Potter Property Management, Inc., one of the largest property management companies in Santa Cruz, providing both long term rentals and vacation or short term rentals. She is a Real Estate Broker, a member of the Aptos Chamber of Commerce and National Association of Property Managers, a board member of the Vacation Rental Managers Association and a board member of the Santa Cruz Tourist and Convention Bureau of Santa Cruz County. You can e-mail Rita at kpr@cruzio.com with any topics you would like to see discussed.