Being an Ellicott City Property Management Company, there is a saying that “Blood is thicker than water” when renting to family and friends. Renting to your friends and family becomes a risky business if the proper screening is not done like with any other tenants.
Nevertheless, the next question on our minds is what you should look out for if you are thinking of co-leasing a home or apartment with a friend. The heading may seem to look harsh, still when it comes to moving in with a friend when singing a co-lease makes sure you have all your ducks in a row.
The circumstances
A while back, we heard of a case where two close friends entered into a rental agreement without considering what may happen further down the line. The person decided to take a rental in her name and all the required background checks was done on her. The security deposit was paid and all went well.
As months went by she later decided to bring in a close friend to share the responsibilities of the rent to make it more affordable and followed all the required steps by informing the property management Ellicott City, MD Company and asking for permission.
They drafted up a new lease agreement considering both, however, one big mistake made, and a credit check on the new tenant number two left out.
The big mistake
Occupant number one decided to move in with her boyfriend and ask occupant number two to take over the lease, which she agrees to and not understanding the implications of signing a joint lease is jointly responsible for the lease period signed.
Occupant number one does not inform the property manager that she is moving out. Moreover, after a few months tenant number two starts defaulting on the payments, and as it is near the end of the lease, she asks the Ellicott City property managers to use the security deposit as the last payment on the rental agreement, even though occupant number one paid the deposit.
The first occupant left some of the belongings on the property before moving out and tenant number two moves out, leaving all number ones belongings in the property.
Illegal steps taken to fix the situation
The property manager and Landlords left with a tricky situation as they want to rent the property out as soon as possible, but do not know that tenant number one rightfully owns the belongings.
A decision is made after discussing it with tenant number two and all the belongings are moved into storage, and considered unlawful and called spoliation and causes many problems, in this case. The renter became aware of the situation and claimed for a very expensive mountain bike that had now gone missing. The question came up as to who took the bike and it was claimed that occupant number two had taken it or it could be stolen.
What you can do to avoid these problems
The first step that they had to take was the screening of tenant number two, as they would find that she had a poor history of rental payments. When the occupant number two finally moved out she should not have moved occupant number ones belongs as this is unlawful and tenant have rights to bring a case of spoliation against Landlords and any property management Ellicott city, MD company.
What can other tenants learn from this incident?
The first and most important lesson to learn for a tenant is that they make sure in fully understanding the responsibility when signing a joint lease. You may be sharing a home or an apartment with a friend, do not be confident that when either one falls on hard time that the friendship will last.
Make sure to inform the property manager or Landlord that you are moving out, and ask that the new lease be drawn up for renter number two. Follow regulations upon moving out; make sure that the property manager or Landlord performs a move-out inspection so that you can obtain your security deposit.
Moreover, never leave any belongings in the property when moving out.
Nevertheless, the next question on our minds is what you should look out for if you are thinking of co-leasing a home or apartment with a friend. The heading may seem to look harsh, still when it comes to moving in with a friend when singing a co-lease makes sure you have all your ducks in a row.
The circumstances
A while back, we heard of a case where two close friends entered into a rental agreement without considering what may happen further down the line. The person decided to take a rental in her name and all the required background checks was done on her. The security deposit was paid and all went well.
As months went by she later decided to bring in a close friend to share the responsibilities of the rent to make it more affordable and followed all the required steps by informing the property management Ellicott City, MD Company and asking for permission.
They drafted up a new lease agreement considering both, however, one big mistake made, and a credit check on the new tenant number two left out.
The big mistake
Occupant number one decided to move in with her boyfriend and ask occupant number two to take over the lease, which she agrees to and not understanding the implications of signing a joint lease is jointly responsible for the lease period signed.
Occupant number one does not inform the property manager that she is moving out. Moreover, after a few months tenant number two starts defaulting on the payments, and as it is near the end of the lease, she asks the Ellicott City property managers to use the security deposit as the last payment on the rental agreement, even though occupant number one paid the deposit.
The first occupant left some of the belongings on the property before moving out and tenant number two moves out, leaving all number ones belongings in the property.
Illegal steps taken to fix the situation
The property manager and Landlords left with a tricky situation as they want to rent the property out as soon as possible, but do not know that tenant number one rightfully owns the belongings.
A decision is made after discussing it with tenant number two and all the belongings are moved into storage, and considered unlawful and called spoliation and causes many problems, in this case. The renter became aware of the situation and claimed for a very expensive mountain bike that had now gone missing. The question came up as to who took the bike and it was claimed that occupant number two had taken it or it could be stolen.
What you can do to avoid these problems
The first step that they had to take was the screening of tenant number two, as they would find that she had a poor history of rental payments. When the occupant number two finally moved out she should not have moved occupant number ones belongs as this is unlawful and tenant have rights to bring a case of spoliation against Landlords and any property management Ellicott city, MD company.
What can other tenants learn from this incident?
The first and most important lesson to learn for a tenant is that they make sure in fully understanding the responsibility when signing a joint lease. You may be sharing a home or an apartment with a friend, do not be confident that when either one falls on hard time that the friendship will last.
Make sure to inform the property manager or Landlord that you are moving out, and ask that the new lease be drawn up for renter number two. Follow regulations upon moving out; make sure that the property manager or Landlord performs a move-out inspection so that you can obtain your security deposit.
Moreover, never leave any belongings in the property when moving out.