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Tenant Responsibilities
Tenants have responsibilities, just like their landlords. Return of a security deposit is just one of the things at risk if tenants don't take responsibility for the property they rent. Here are a few tips:
- Take an inventory of the premises within 5 days of occupancy. Keep a written copy that has been signed by both landlord and tenant.
- Keep your home clean, including floors and walls.
- Dispose of trash in provided garbage cans or dumpsters, not the street or yard.
- Take trash cans to the curb for trash collection day, then roll them back off the curb after trash has been collected.
- Keep exits and stairways free of furniture, bicycles and other items. You may need to escape quickly in the event of a fire.
- Store flammable liquids safely away from the home.
- Report issues to your landlord as they arise.
- Allow owner access to make repairs at reasonable times.
- Abide by the lease terms, including number of roommates/tenants allowed (no more than 4 unrelated people can live in the same dwelling, according to city ordinance)
- Use appliances, electrical fixtures (including smoke detectors) and plumbing fixtures as the manufacturer intended.
- Yards should be maintained and rubbish free. According to city ordinance, the following items are not allowed to remain outside a home for more than 48 hours in any location visible from streets or sidewalks:
- Appliances
- Bedding, bottles, boxes, broken glass
- Cans, cardboard, cartons
- Furniture manufactured for indoor use only
- Household appliances
- Jars
- Lumber and building supply materials that are not neatly stacked
- Machine parts, motor vehicle parts
- Pallets, paper, plumbing fixtures
- Rags
- Scrap metal
- Tire rims, tires
- Water heaters