The tenant's mindset is that they are basically "outta here" and at least mentally, they have moved onto bigger and better pastures - whether that be a new home or a different apartment. The tenant has already removed their belongings (at least hopefully), done any repairs that they are willing to do, and done any cleaning that they think is necessary. The main motivation for a tenant during a walkthrough is to determine what amount of their security deposit they will be getting back from their landlord. I guess a secondary factor is that more and more tenants are unpredictable these days. My primary reason for no longer recommending that landlords conduct walkthroughs with their departing tenants has to do with the pressure of the moment. In fact this is what I often reccomend that landlords do these days. Nothing is wrong with telling a tenant to drop off their keys at the office and then after are long gone checking out the condition of the apartment. Just because one is asked for - or even demanded - does not mean that the landlord must agree to it. I am aware that many a tenant will demand a walkthrough with their landlord. I am not aware of any federal, state or municipal law that requires a landlord to conduct a walkthrough with his/her tenant. It is important to note that conducting a walkthrough with a tenant prior to their vacating is not required. I no longer recommend that my landlord clients do walkthroughs with their tenants - or at a minimum I point out some of the drawbacks of the walkthrough. Over the years, I have made a complete 180 degree turn on the issue of walkthroughs. The tenant could go back and fix things thus insuring that they received their security deposit back and the landlord would not have to spend time or money repairing damage or cleaning the unit and could thus turn the unit over more quickly. My reasoning was that this was a win-win situation for both the landlord and the tenant. That way, if damages were identified, or areas were not cleaned properly, the tenant would have time to go back and make the repairs or better clean the area. I would recommend that they conduct the walkthrough a few hours before the lease termination date or the end of the tenancy. When I first began working with landlords over fifteen years ago, I often encouraged them to conduct walkthroughs with their tenants. A landlord might also note if the tenant did not adequately clean the unit or some of the appliances (typically this is the stove and/or refrigerator) and indicate that the tenant's security deposit will be deducted accordingly. It is at this time that a landlord may point out damage to the rental that occurred during the tenancy and which the tenant will be held responsible for. A walkthrough is just that - the tenant and the landlord walk through the rental unit and make observations of the condition of the unit. To "Walkthrough" or Not To "Walkthrough" That Is The QuestionĪt the end of a tenancy a tenant or a landlord often requests a walkthrough of the rental unit prior to turning in the keys and delivering possession of the unit back to the landlord.
0 Comments
Leave a Reply. |