It is a tough job to keep track of your tenants’ New Year’s Eve celebrations and keep it from becoming the kind of parties that increase the risk of damage and liability because it grew from something simple to something massive and hard to control. Questions like the number of people allowed that is considered too much already, or can (and should) you try to limit your tenants from consuming alcohol? What about if your tenants want to set off fireworks or noisemakers at midnight?
All of these questions (and more) can all be discussed in your lease documents. The wording in your lease should explicitly limit the number of guests allowed on the property at any given time, with larger numbers necessitating special permission. The specific number can vary, but “no more than 10 for fewer than four hours” is a popular option.
Legally, you can’t ban the consumption of alcohol by your renters, what you can do instead is to include specific language in your lease that addresses illegal activities and lays out the specific consequences of letting such activity on your rental property in Worcester. You could also think about prohibiting certain numbers of guests, an unnecessary level of noise, or a large number of cars. Fireworks should be prohibited at all of your rental homes, but you might consider making a special note of holiday-related activities (such as loud music or noisemakers) that would generate a public nuisance for the entire area.
Another thing you can do is to make sure that your tenants have their own renter’s insurance including renter’s legal liability. If a large party does occur on the property, the possibility of damage and injury increases considerably. If damage or injury does happen, you could be held responsible unless your tenants have their insurance coverage.
Ultimately, protecting your rental homes requires that you are diligent in enforcing the terms of the lease agreement. If a party gets out of hand and loud, destructive, or illegal activity is taking place, it’s imperative that you act on it promptly and hold your renters accountable.
The good news is that you don’t have to do all of this on your own. At Real Property Management Metro West-Worcester, we will ensure that your lease documents include specific and binding language while monitoring activity, watching for those things that may not comply. Please contact us online or by phone at 508-329-6000 to learn more about what we can do for you.