Question: I have a prospective tenant whose company will pay his rent as a perk to his job. Who must sign the lease?
Ted Kimball
Kimball, Tirey & St. John LLP
Answer: It is our strong advice to have both the company and the individual sign the lease. If the employment is terminated, you would have a stranger in your unit without a signed lease.
Question: If a guest causes problems or damages the property, what is my recourse?
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 I suspect a former tenant used drugs, should I tell the next manager when they call me for a reference?
Answer: Only if your suspicions are founded on objective evidence and are not merely your hunch. If the resident proves this statement is false, you could be liable for slander and misrepresentation.
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.