All around the country, people eagerly anticipate the arrival of Memorial Day and the promise of summer that it brings. Over time, Memorial Day has become a day for holding a barbecue or gathering with family and friends. Your tenants will likely celebrate Memorial Day with a social event of some kind as well.
When talking about social gatherings in your Plano rental homes, it’s important to know what can be done to keep things under control. Learn the three most important things landlords must know about Memorial Day parties in their rental homes.
1. Put It in the Lease
Making sure that your residents’ keep their Memorial Day parties from becoming large events that increase the risk of damage and liability can be challenging. How many people is too many for your rental home? Can (and should) you try to restrict your residents from consuming alcohol? What is your policy about residents grilling or building fires in the yard? Answering these questions beforehand allows you to designate boundaries for your residents’ parties before they even happen.
The maximum number of party guests, allowable noise levels, and more can all be addressed in your lease documents. Make your lease documents with well-crafted statements that explicitly limit the number of guests your residents can have, with larger numbers requiring special permission. “No more than 10 for fewer than four hours” is a popular option, though the number varies.
2. The Do’s and Don’ts of Alcohol and Grilling Policies
There is usually the consumption of alcohol during large parties. Since you can’t legally prohibit alcohol consumption, it is important that you use specific language in your lease about illegal activities, and have clear and specific consequences of allowing such activity on your rental property.
On a similar note, when residents want to grill or otherwise have open flames on the property, the lease should have already explained the rules and safety issues related to fire. Even quality barbecue grills can become a fire hazard if misused, so you should be clear whether grills are allowed and under what terms.
3. Renters Insurance and Renters Legal Liability
You must ensure that your residents have their own renters insurance. The possibility of damage and injury increases considerably if a large gathering does occur. If damage or injury does occur, you could be held responsible unless residents have their own insurance coverage.
In regards to any party or social gathering at this time, please keep in mind the current recommendations by the CDC. Even though several places in the U.S. are opening back up, many areas still restrict gatherings to a certain number of people. Your Plano tenants must be mindful of current restrictions within their city or state to keep themselves and your community safe.
Diligence in enforcing the terms of the lease agreement is a way to keep your rental homes safe. If a party gets out of hand and loud, destructive, or illegal activity is taking place, always act promptly and decisively to hold your residents accountable.
You do not have to do this alone. At Real Property Management Legend, we will monitor activity in the residence and help you craft lease documents designed to keep party plans within acceptable limits. You can contact us or call us at 214-227-2404 for more info today!
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