It’s important to know what can be done to keep things under control when it comes to parties in your Chevy Chase rental homes. Here are the top three things landlords need to know about Memorial Day parties in their rental homes.
1. Put It in the Lease
Making sure that your residents’ keep their Memorial Day parties from becoming large events that increase the risk of damage and liability can be challenging. How many people are too many for your property’s size? Can (and should) you try to restrict your residents from consuming alcohol? What is your policy about residents grilling or building fires in the yard? When you have answered these questions beforehand, you could find it easier to manage your resident’s parties before they ever happen.
The maximum number of party guests, agreeable noise levels, and more can all be addressed in your lease documents. Your lease documents must be worded to explicitly limit the number of people allowed on your property, with larger numbers requiring special permission. The number may change, but “no more than 10 for fewer than four hours” is a popular pick.
2. The Do’s and Don’ts of Alcohol and Grilling Policies
Consumption of alcohol is common in gatherings like these. Because you can’t legally prohibit alcohol on your property, you must include specific language in your lease that addresses illegal activities. It should also lay out the specific consequences of allowing such activity on your property.
Likewise, when residents want to grill or otherwise have open flames on the property, the lease should have already explained the rules and safety issues related to fire. Even quality barbecue grills can become a fire hazard if misused, so your lease language should clearly state if grills are allowed and under what terms.
3. Renters Insurance and Renters Legal Liability
You must always ensure that your residents have their renters insurance. If ever a large party does happen, the possibility of damage and injury increases considerably. If damage or injury does occur, you could be held responsible unless residents have their insurance coverage.
In regards to any party or social gathering at this time, please keep in mind the current recommendations by the CDC. Although a lot of places in the U.S. are opening back up, many still restrict gatherings to a certain number of people. Your Chevy Chase tenants must be mindful of current restrictions within their city or state to keep themselves and your community safe.
Diligence in enforcing the terms of the lease agreement is a way to keep your rental homes safe. If a party gets out of hand and loud, destructive, or illegal activity is taking place, act promptly, and decisively to hold your residents accountable.
We are here to help. You do not have to do all this by yourself. At Real Property Management Washington DC, we will monitor activity in the residence and help you craft lease documents designed to keep party plans within acceptable limits. You can contact us or call us at 202-813-9993 for more info today!