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One of the challenges of being a landlord is dealing with difficult tenants. It may be tempting to look the other way if you notice lease violations. To protect yourself and your property, you need to take action, which starts with lease enforcement.
With nearly 50 million rental properties in the US, many landlords have faced obstacles on their path to rental property success. One of the biggest challenges can be dealing with difficult tenants.
This guide will help you learn how to protect yourself and your property with lease enforcement in Connecticut.
What Are Lease Violations?
Lease violations are essentially when the contract you have agreed upon is broken. Tenants may take specific actions or fail to fulfill certain agreements. Some common lease violations include:
- Pets in an unauthorized property
- Failure to pay rent or regular late payments
- Noise complaints
- Property damage
- Illegal activities
- Failing to follow health safety codes
Around 15% of US renters are behind on rent payments. While you may be able to make an exception, frequent late payments can constitute lease enforcement due to the financial harm it is causing you. Other breaches to your lease agreement, such as the above examples, could lead to reduced rental income, costly repairs, a poor reputation, and even legal issues.
The Lease Enforcement Procedure
Connecticut demands you have a good reason to evict a tenant. If a tenant has not had any lease violations, you cannot evict them unless they overstay their lease without lease renewal. In this case, you can follow an eviction procedure of a 3-day notice to quit.
For lease violations in Connecticut, you need to give a notice of 15 days to quit or comply with a lease to tenants. It is down to personal discretion as to whether you take this action. An excellent place to start is to consider the following:
- The severity of lease violations
- Frequency of lease violations
You can consider giving a written warning or talking with tenants before serving a notice. You can also seek professional advice if you are unsure how to manage specific lease violations.
Ways To Prevent Lease Violations
Part of lease enforcement is prevention. Lease enforcement also refers to the steps you take when selecting your next tenants. Consider the following factors:
- Tenant screening
- A clear written lease agreement
- Evaluation and evidence of property condition
- Property management service
A tenant screening with a tenant background check is essential to reduce the risk of lease violations. Documenting the condition of the property will ensure you spot lease violations early. A property management company can also provide all the expertise you need to find the right tenants and implement lease enforcement.
Property Management in Niantic, Connecticut
Lease enforcement is an essential step in maximizing your rental income. You do not have to go through the process alone. A property management company can efficiently manage all aspects of your property including lease enforcement, tenant screenings, and marketing your property.
PMI East Lyme serves the area of Niantic, Connecticut. Schedule a consultation with our team of experts to learn more about our services and how we can help you achieve your rental property goals.
