Landlords and tenants play an equally important role in creating a positive rental experience for the other. A bad landlord can be annoying for the renter and a bad tenant can result in financial losses for the owner. According to a 2019 census, nearly 60% of households in Arlington were renters. Furthermore, there has been a steady upward trend in the number of renter households in Virginia.
While this provides a lot of opportunities for homeowners and investors to own a profitable property in Arlington, it is necessary to remember that both landlords and tenants are required to fulfill their individual responsibilities and co-operate with each other to ensure a smooth rental journey.
Based on our experience of 10+ years in the Arlington real estate market, here are a few crucial responsibilities of Arlington landlords and tenants.
As property owners, landlords are required to carry out several duties in the best interest of their tenants. This includes ensuring their renters’ safety, regular maintenance, responding quickly to their concerns, and providing a habitable place for living.
Every renter deserves a home where they can feel safe and comfortable. The most basic duty of a landlord is to ensure that their property is secure. This includes installing locks on doors and windows, changing them when new tenants move in, and ensuring that the rental premises are well-lit.
A landlord needs to regularly inspect their rental property for signs of damages or any potential issues. Any concerns found during inspections, such as structural damages, mold, leakage issues, pest infestation, or asbestos, must be addressed promptly. This protects you from liability and prevents any potential inconvenience to renters.
If ignored, minor problems can escalate and cause drastic damage to your Arlington unit. To avoid this, landlords should address all repair-related issues at the earliest, with the help of qualified contractors.
It is important for landlords to know at least the most important federal and state housing laws, preferably taking help from professional property managers or legal counsel to understand them and their implications.
For instance, the Landlord-Tenant Law in Virginia requires landlords to follow the building and housing codes, keep the unit habitable, clean, and pest-free, provide basic utilities, and adopt safety measures like the installation of security alarms. In addition, there are several laws related to tenant screening, rent collection, property inspections, and eviction.
Lack of knowledge about critical laws can result in breaking them unknowingly, which can turn into a legal nightmare if your tenant decides to sue.
That covers landlord responsibilities to an extent. Now, let us take a look at tenant responsibilities.
A renter is equally responsible for ensuring habitability in the rental unit, if not more so. This includes taking care of the property, avoiding any willful damage to the rental premises, paying rent on time while occupying the unit, and more.
Although the landlord is responsible for the overall upkeep of the rental, it is the tenant’s responsibility to keep the unit squeaky clean and hygienic while they're staying. The renter must use the utilities and appliances inside the unit responsibly and refrain from causing any damage to the property.
If tenants notice any issue in the rental house that requires immediate attention, they should send a request to the landlord. The owner can then take suitable steps to save the renters from the inconvenience and prevent the problem from worsening.
The lease agreement outlines the various responsibilities of the renters in detail, from rent payments to lease termination and payment of utility bills to regular maintenance. Once the lease is signed, it is essential that tenants dutifully adhere to the clauses of the lease. They may communicate with the landlord if they need help understanding any clause in the agreement.
This is only a small sample of the many landlord and tenant responsibilities for Arlington properties. Consequently, it can be overwhelming for homeowners to ensure that all of them are fulfilled properly and their renters are complying with the lease.
At Arlington Realty Property Management, we can help you find your balance as we take up the majority of your property management responsibilities, leaving you free to enjoy a hassle-free rental experience.
For more details, connect with us at Arlington Realty Property Management.
