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Informed Citizens

are Better Citizens

Generally, a tenant, residential or commercial, must not damage or allow the rental property to be damaged. For example the tenant cannot not put holes in walls, remove floor coverings or remove other fixtures. Additionally, if the tenant knows that there is a water leak, mold or other ongoing damage, the tenant must tell the landlord to stop the damage to the rental property. The remainder of tenant’s responsibilities should be listed in the Lease Agreement, Rules or Association Rules. If there is no lease agreement then the Tenant should ask the landlord very specifically what the tenant is required to maintain. In some instances the tenant can be required to maintain the yard, make minor repairs, remove trash, snow, and ice. The tenant is usually not responsible for normal wear such as carpet fading due to sunlight, paint cracking and pealing, or floor wear due to normal foot traffic. The tenant should plan to return the rental property to the landlord in the same condition that it was first provided by the landlord.—Lori Hager, Esq., Coughlin Duffy LLP