7 ways to avoid war with your landlord

1. Do not make any changes without informing the owner

This should be detailed in your contract, but in general, you are not allowed to make major changes to the property on your own initiative without informing the owner. This also applies to energy, water and internet providers. If you think you need to change because another provider offers better rates and would benefit your finances, you can discuss it with the agent or property owner, who in most cases would not mind as long as you go back to the original provider sooner. you leave the property.

You cannot change or remove any of the appliances that were already on the property without asking the landlord. If you do, you may lose part or the entire amount of your deposit. However, you can move furniture around the property if you want and you don’t have to inform the owner about it. It is very important to move everything back to where it was at the end of your tenancy.

2. Don’t lie about having pets or children

It is true that it is much more difficult to rent a place if you have pets or children, but you cannot use this as an excuse to lie to your agent or owner until you sign the contract. Remember that your lease is a binding legal document and lists all the people (and or animals) who are allowed to live on the property. If it is later discovered that you moved in with pets or children without seeking approval from the landlord, your lease may be canceled and you may be evicted. It is a myth that no one can take you out of a property if you have children. It may take a couple of months to get a court order, but at the end of the day, the landlord has the legal right to remove you from their property if you breach the contract.

3. Do not sublet

It is a crime to sublet a property that is not yours, unless specifically agreed with the owner or allowed in your lease.

4. Maintain the good order and condition of the property.

As long as you live in the property, you are responsible for its general upkeep. This means, keep it tidy, clean it regularly to avoid infestation of pests, do not damage the walls, carpets, curtains and any furniture and appliances that do not belong to you. Most people have no problem doing housework on their own, but for busy people it may be worth considering hiring a professional domestic cleaning service just to avoid a potential war with the landlord over poor housekeeping. property.

5. Do not disturb the neighbors

If you are someone who likes to have regular house parties and constantly annoy the neighbors, that can get you in trouble not only with the landlord but also with the police. Depending on the frequency and seriousness of your inconsiderate behavior, you may be arrested and your lease may be terminated.

6. make sure you complete the end-of-lease cleaning

It is very rare these days that professional end-of-lease cleaning is not described as a requirement for the return of your deposit when leaving the property. Most rental agencies and even private landlords will specifically request receipts from cleaning companies in order to release the full deposit, even if you did a good job yourself.

7. Don’t stop paying municipal taxes

In most cases, the tenant must pay the city tax during the rental period. Very few owners include this expense in the rental price. If you decide to bypass the city tax (as annoying as the bill is), you are in breach of the contract, which means you can be evicted and may still have to pay the council for the time you have lived in the property.

Ultimately, the easiest way to avoid a war with your landlord is to read your lease and follow it at all times. If you happen to need to make some changes, simply discuss it with the property owner in a calm and polite manner to get an outcome in your best interest.