Legal Q&A: What if a guest damages the property?

June 14, 2016

Question: If a guest causes problems or damages the property, what is my recourse?

Ted Kimball
Kimball, Tirey & St. John LLP

Answer: The tenant is responsible to pay for the repair of any damage caused by their guest’s negligence or intentional act. If they fail to pay, a three-day notice to perform conditions and covenants or quit can be served.

Question: If someone owes late charges and NSF check charges, do I give them a three-day notice to pay rent?

Answer: The three-day notice to pay rent or quit should only include rent – no late charges. A separate notice to perform covenant for late charges can be served at the same time as the notice to pay rent is served.

Question: How often can I legally raise the rent?

Answer: Unless you are under rent control or a state or federal subsidy program, there are no restrictions as to the number of times you can increase the rent.

Kimball, Tirey & St. John LLP is a full service real estate law firm representing residential and commercial property owners and managers. This article is for general information purposes only. Laws may have changed since this article was published. Before acting, be sure to receive legal advice from our office. If you have questions, please contact your local KTS office. For contact information, please visit our website: www.kts-law.com. For past Legal Alerts, Questions & Answers, and Legal Articles, please consult the resource library section of our website.

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