A messy tenant can be a nightmare to deal with. If their rental is constantly filthy, they can bring down the value of your property and make it difficult to re-rent your house. A dirty and unhygienic indoor environment can breed rodents and bugs which can end up spreading to nearby houses.
It is difficult to identify a dirty tenant before you rent out your property. Most likely, you will notice the problem a few weeks or months after they have started the lease. But how do you tell a tenant that they need to clean up? Confrontation isn’t easy, but you need to specifically communicate the issue at hand, as well as clearly outline what needs to happen to fix it.
Signs of a Dirty Tenant
Before you can tell a tenant to clean up, there are some signs that you should first identify. They include:
• Garbage not being removed
• A bad smell coming from a rental unit
• Increase in roaches and rodents
• Structural damage in adjoining units
• Hazardous chemicals carelessly left around the property
• Complaints from neighboring tenants
• Repeated denied access into the property for inspection
Steps to Take to Get Tenants to Clean Regularly
1. Clearly Communicate Expectations
The lease generally should require regular cleaning. You should inform your tenants about any legal and personal expectations regarding cleanliness.
A tenant should clearly know your expectations. You should be very specific about the cleaning activities that you expect to be done and when they should be done such as daily, weekly, or monthly. You can include a clause in the tenancy lease that highlights cleaning activities to be done, such as vacuuming carpets every week, removing mold, sweeping hardwood floors, and cleaning all areas of the house.
Any clause related to cleaning will need to be included in the lease before the tenant signs it. You may want to consult an attorney before doing so, as they can help you understand the legalities.
2. Regular Inspections
It can sometimes be beneficial to perform regular inspections. Usually, you should notify the tenant when you’re going to do the inspections at least 24 hours prior. Generally, you shouldn’t enter the property without a tenant’s permission, but there are exceptions. Margeret E. Juliano, J.D. states in one of her articles, “unless a lease agreement specifies that a landlord can enter the leased premises (an apartment or a house), a Texas landlord’s right to enter is limited to emergencies, routine inspections or repairs.” (see – https://legalbeagle.com/12005737-state-laws-landlords-breaking-lease-texas.html) This means that you may be allowed to do surprise inspections if you want to get a better take on how bad the situation actually is, but check with an attorney or make sure it is included in your lease before you do so.
If a tenant knows that you will inspect the property regularly, they will try to keep it in good shape. During the inspection, you should document the mess using photos and videos to serve as evidence if the tenant leaves your property and challenges your right to deduct professional cleaning expenses from the security deposit.
The Bottom-Line
Being a landlord is not easy. You will deal with messy tenants time and again because you can’t predict how a tenant will live. However, by creating a solid cleanliness clause and including it in the lease agreement, you will be in a better position to deal with a dirty tenant.
If dealing with these types of situations isn’t something you want to do, call Specialized Property Management Houston. Our team ensures your rental investment stays “rent-ready” with curb appeal, making recommendations where necessary. We also conduct mid-lease inspections to ensure lease compliance and care of the property.
