Last month, we talked about 5 questions that a prospective renter would be highly likely to
ask and why the answers should already be in your lease.
From rental payments to utility coverage, and security deposits, some resident questions are
common and expected.
But what about the weird questions you get? After every few prospects, you'll get a question you may not have considered putting in your lease.
Let's talk about some of the ones we've gotten in the past and whether you should consider
adding them to your lease.
What about my pet lizard?
One of the most common "uncommon" questions you'll get are pet questions. If you have
different rules on pet lizards, turtles, fish, or even pet rodents you should make sure you
understand the different policies you want to instate.
A great way to include this information without adding pages upon pages of rules into your lease is with a separate pet policy that the lease references. A separate policy will allow you room for detail on vaccinations, breed restrictions, and special requirements for unique pets. You should also clearly state which pets are not accepted.
Having this policy separate is great as it allows you the opportunity to review and revise as you figure out what works for the property.
Should pet lizards be included in the lease?
Our answer: Yes, to an extent. It’s impossible to list every breed of every type of animal in your policies. Implementing a general policy that captures most types of pets will help you treat each pet owner equally.
Tip: Always ensure that your pet policy complies with local laws and regulations
related to pets and animal care.
Is it safe here?
Many a leasing agent has paused at that question and said “Yes, of course”. If your leasing agent has done this, they need a Fair Housing refresher immediately.
The best answer to potential Fair Housing violations is no answer. This doesn’t mean ignoring or lying to your prospect but you should not offer a direct answer (regardless of your opinion on the property’s safety). Simply and honestly tell them that you cannot answer that question due to Fair Housing regulations. Safety is never promised or guaranteed and offering an answer can lead to lawsuits, massive fines, and even business loss.
After receiving safety queries, a great way to steer the conversation away from implicating topics lies in informing the resident of the amenities and offerings onsite. Information like security cameras, 24/7 concierge, keyless entry, and secured access spaces are okay to mention to a prospect and offers the opportunity to go into other property amenities like pools, parking, and resident spaces.
Should safety be mentioned in the lease?
Our answer: No. It’s okay to mention services and amenities in the lease but you should avoid the word safety in every instance.
Tip: Catch up on Fair Housing guidelines at least once a year. Small changes
often occur and it’s best to stay up to date with these regulations.
Can I paint the walls pink?
Okay, it doesn’t have to be pink. It also doesn’t have to be painting the walls. Regardless of the request, it’s common for prospects to fall in love with the space but not necessarily the features. So, whether it’s painting a mural on the walls, pulling up the carpet in the living room, or covering the appliances and cabinetry in contact paper, you should be confident with answering questions regarding which makeovers your residents are allowed to do to the property.
You should know offhand if you allow certain changes and the policy you want to instate for
move-outs. Should the property be returned to its original state? Are certain changes absolutely banned? Make sure you have these answers readily available to share.
Should my lease allow my resident to paint the apartment bubblegum pink?
Our answer: Maybe. It’s okay to allow aesthetic (or even functional) changes in the lease. We’d recommend keeping the section simple. Like with pets, the types of changes a resident might want can become an endless list. Stick to general permissions and include information on your approval processes regarding revamping the space.
Tip: Require residents to seek approval for any major changes to the property.
Doing so will keep you informed of any changes made and offer you an
opportunity to deny any requests.
At the end of the day, you should make sure your lease is informative and concrete (not missing info that could cause liability). Whether you add answers to odd queries into your lease or not is ultimately up to you to decide.
If adding these answers doesn’t make sense for your property or lease, you should know the
answers to commonly asked odd queries. Knowing these answers will help you distribute even and fair communication to prospects and residents alike and ensure that your "Let me check on that." and your "Sorry, we don't provide that service here." won't land you in Fair Housing
trouble.
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