Preventing Landlord-Tenant Disputes

Being a landlord comes with a lot of risks because of the possibility of delinquent tenants who intentionally or unintentionally fall short in meeting what is required of them. Conversely, some landlords fail to effectively carry out their responsibilities, such as maintenance and repairs, making life difficult for tenants.

Image source: flcrelitblog.shutts.com

Because of this, disputes may arise between landlord and tenants. Some of these conflicts escalate to the point that mediation, or even litigation, is needed to settle arguments.

There are ways to minimize the possibility of disputes, such as the following:

  •  Have a written lease agreement, and gain a full understanding of it. Before signing, both parties must ensure that they know everything they are agreeing to. For landlords, they must make sure that no stones are unturned in the contract clauses and that the tenants understand everything they are complying with. Tenants, on the other hand, need to read the entire document, from top to bottom, and raise all the concerns they have before signing.
  •  Be well-versed in the housing laws. Both parties must know at least the basics of housing law so that they know their respective rights, as well as responsibilities.
  •  Document everything. In every disagreement regarding leasing or renting, one’s best defense is a paper trail. All files relevant to the landlord-tenant transactions should be kept safely. In this digital age, it is also recommended to take photographs of the property, even before a tenant has moved in because these images can be considered as evidence should disputes develop. 

Image source: realestate.usnews.com

Daniel E. DeKoter practices law at Sibley, IA, and he has experience in various fields, including real estate law. Read more about his area of practice by visiting this blog.

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Letting Go Of Employees: Protocols And Basic Etiquette

Image
Letting go of any employee is difficult for management. But such a decision is often necessary to business growth and staff productivity. Management should therefore do it as gracefully as possible. Here’s how: Be direct and firm   Avoid being longwinded with your statements. Be forthright and clear.Iif you are letting an employee go, the news should be delivered at the beginning of the meeting. Then patiently answer any administrative questions, such as the issuance of the final check or payment and other insurance claims and benefits. Image source : thebalance.com Make sure that a witness is present Have someone from the Human Resources division or a trusted employee present. This will help you in any possible lawsuit or claims of illegal or unethical conduct..  Never embarrass the employee Never let go of the employee in front of everyone else in the office. Do this in private, with only a trusted witness on hand. Understand that when an
Read more

The Three Types Of Product Liability Cases

Image
Image source: dontpanicfoundation.org Thousands of injuries are caused by defective products annually. As protection for consumers, there is a set of rules under the umbrella term, “product liability law,” which makes it less difficult for the affected party to recover damages and serves as a reminder for companies to ensure the quality of the goods they manufacture or distribute. Product liability cases can fall under three types: Design defect In design defect cases, there is something inherently dangerous or wrong with the product due to errors in design. For example, if a customer buys a household fan whose protective guards have unreasonably wide openings wide enough to fit a finger, an injury caused by the product can be the basis of a product liability suit. Manufacturing defect A defect in manufacturing is described by the Third Restatement of Torts as the creation of a product that “departs from its intended design even though all possible
Read more

Digital conduct: The importance of social media policies in the office

Image
Social media a powerful communication tool. It has also become a part of the average person's routine. However, in professional settings, the use of social networks might need to be restrained to maintain the integrity of not just of the business but of the people involved in it. Here are three reasons why social media policies are important in the workplace:  Image source: Pixabay.com To create professional boundaries for employees   It's common to see tweets or status updates from people while they are at work. There are also some people who post about what's happening in their workplace during office hours. While one post can be made in less than a minute, the temptation to wait for reactions or to keep browsing social networks while at work may keep a person from attending to more important tasks. Setting up social media breaks or restricting use can help employees prioritize their work over their feed.  To keep work-related disputes confident
Read more