One of the greatest parts of the holiday season is that we can get together with our family and friends. When you are a renter and those loved ones come to visit, however, there are a few important things you should keep in mind. These things would both ensure a visit that is comfortable and one that doesn’t violate the terms of your lease. These points can be grouped into two. The first one is making your friends and family feel welcome during the holiday. The second one is understanding your responsibilities as a tenant when guests visit. With these points, you can maintain good relationships with everyone concerned – including your landlord!
When preparing for your guests to arrive, there are a number of things you can do to make their visit as comfortable as possible. For example, most of the guests staying in your home would want access to your Wi-Fi. By writing down your password on a piece of paper and handing it over to them when they arrive, you are making it more convenient for them to get online. Likewise, when you provide each guest with detailed instructions on how to get to your house, including any necessary gate codes, you’re removing any uncertainty on their part. This would be a very welcome gesture and they would be grateful for it.
The moment your guests are in your home, you’d want them to have a sense that everything they need is available to them and they lack nothing. With that in mind, it would be nice to provide them some breakfast options as well as an assortment of little necessities. Providing for your guests’ breakfast preferences can help them feel at home and cared for. Then when you add the simple gesture of giving them a basket filled with items like extra toilet paper, clean towels, toiletries, feminine products, and even a hairdryer, you go the extra mile and may even save them from an embarrassing situation if they ever forgot to bring some of their personal hygiene products.
There’s another nice thing you can do for them. Create a list of nearby amenities or attractions. This gives your guests the freedom to plan to have a little fun going to local sites of interest during their stay without feeling wholly reliant on you. And for their sleeping space, arrange it so that they’ll have all the comforts they’ll need to settle in. Also, for the tenants without an extra bedroom, bring out a comfortable air mattress, chair for clothing, a lamp or nightlight, and a fan will help everyone rest easy.
As you do everything you can to make sure your guests are comfortable, you also need to remember your responsibilities as a tenant. Most landlords understand how holiday parties and the guests that attend them are necessary when celebrating the holidays. So, to make sure things are manageable and safe, many of them added specific language in your lease that restricts the number of guests and the length of time that any guest can stay. This is exactly why it is important to know the terms of your lease before making any holiday plans. The last thing you want is for your neighbors to complain to your landlord or the local authorities, ruining your holiday.
The general rule is when you’re planning holiday get-togethers and parties, try to keep them within reason. Observe local noise ordinances and quiet hours during the night. Do everything you can to keep your guests from becoming a nuisance to your neighbors by parking their cars in front of their houses, driveways, and so on. It’s probably best to keep your number of guests somewhat small to keep your neighbors or your landlord from getting angry.
Finally, remember to check with your landlord if one or more of your guests will be staying with you for an extended period. Long-term guests who overstay their welcome and be counted as an unauthorized tenant, creating a great deal of trouble for you. If you’re unclear about how long your guests can stay before your landlord will want them to start paying rent, ask. In fact, communicating with your landlord or property management company is the best thing to do when anything isn’t very clear.
The fantastic news? Real Property Management Legend has a team of Richardson property managers who knows how crucial it is to communicate with both tenants and owners while clarifying lease terms and enforcing the rules if necessary. Whether you’re looking for a rental or would like us to manage your property, contact us and see how we can help you this holiday season.
We are pledged to the letter and spirit of U.S. policy for the achievement of equal housing opportunity throughout the Nation. See Equal Housing Opportunity Statement for more information.
