All property owners recognize their roles and responsibilities that pertain to their rentals. They know that they need to oversee everything that goes on in the property. If someone had an accident inside the premises, they should determine the cause. It does not automatically mean that the landlord should be held responsible.

The tenants are also answerable to some of the issues in a rental. The moment they sign the lease agreement, they acknowledge that they have accountabilities too. Why should you have to know all this? It’s simple. You may transact with landlords and tenants. Sooner or later, one of them might ask you, and you should know what to answer. Let’s look at it one by one, shall we?

Tenant Error

As I said, tenants also have their obligations to the landlord. Aside from paying the rent, the renters are expected to care for the property. They need to follow the terms included in the contract, and it involves being accountable.

Tenants should avoid causing damages to the item in their rental, particularly if it does not belong to them. For example, they live in a fully furnished unit wherein the furniture and appliances belong to the landlord. The tenant left the stove on and caused a small kitchen fire. Naturally, it is considered negligence on their part.

Another example, a renter had some friends over, and one of them had an accident. Upon investigation, it turns out they were getting rowdy, causing one of them to fall. Since they caused the injury, the tenant is liable.

Landlord Error

Landlords have more liabilities than tenants, though. Not only are they expected to provide a home, but they also have to guarantee a safe and problem-free one. The property owners should always maintain a habitable rental. It means the tenants are entitled to a comfortable home because they are paying for it.

Landlord negligence should be proven. There has to be sufficient evidence that the proprietor, although indirectly, caused a problem. For example, an accident occurred in the rental. If it happened because the area was not well maintained, the landlord is held liable. They are also accountable if the tenants reported a problem and it was not addressed immediately, causing the injury. A broken step on the stairs? It should be a priority because it can result in someone falling.

The Lease Agreement

Identifying who is responsible should be indicated in the lease agreement. The landlords are responsible for the structure and its maintenance. They have to make sure that common areas are safe and free from hazards. The residents should make sure that they, or their visitors, will not cause any damages to the property.

I always say that the contract should have specifications to prevent disagreements between landlord and tenant. Although there are available templates online, they should make their own which is more applicable to their property. They can incorporate a clause about having people over and the restrictions.

Get insured

One of the things that can help all landlords and tenants is having insurance. It will assist them through financial troubles. Let’s face it. The main issue with property liabilities is who should pay for the damages. Who spends on the repair? Who will settle the hospital bill? Encourage them to get insurance which they can use for emergencies.

There you go. I hope this article has been informative for you. The next time you get a client, you know you possess the knowledge. And speaking of finding a client, it is easier if you use Padleads. You can post your property listings online and have them syndicated to other websites. I can’t think of anything better than that, can you?

Learning about these things is not exclusive to landlords and tenants. Once they hire you, you are involved in the process. It doesn’t hurt to know the difference between landlord and tenant negligence. A leasing agent who is aware of the ins and outs of renting is remarkable.