Rentwise! Chapter Three -- Basic Covenants

A GOOD TENANT KEEPS HIS COVENANTS!

Do you always pay rent on time?

Do you and the kids take good care of your house and yard?

Do you respect your neighbor's rights?

If you rent a place—any place—you are legally bound to answer "yes" to these questions. When you contract with a landlord--whether verbally or in writing--you are promising (1) to pay rent on time, (2) to not damage the landlord's property, and (3) to not disturb the people who live around you. These three promises constitute your essential obligations under any rental agreement.

If you break any of these promises your landlord will begin to wonder whether you are a good tenant. You have broken the contract and he may think about getting rid of you. Remember, he looks at things from a completely different point of view than you do. He/she puts up with the hassles of landlording for one reason only--to make money from his/her investment.

If he has to fix your dishwasher every few months, it costs him. If he has to clean the parking lot because of your leaking car, it costs him. If he loses a tenant because your kids are noisy, it costs him. If he has to chase you down to get his rent payment. . . well, you get the idea. To the landlord, time is money.

A good tenant tries to understand the landlord's point of view, and honors the promises of the contract without argument or excuses.

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