One of the best things about the holiday season is that you get to see your family and friends. When you are a renter and those loved ones come to visit, however, there are a few things you’ll need to consider. This would not only ensure that their visit would be a nice and comfortable one but also that it does not violate the terms of your lease. These points can be grouped into two. The first one is making your friends and family feel welcome during the holiday. The second one is understanding your responsibilities as a tenant when guests visit. With these points, you can maintain good relationships with everyone concerned – including your landlord!
When preparing for your guests to arrive, there are a number of things you can do to make their visit as comfortable as possible. For instance, it’s pretty certain that many of your guests would want access to your Wi-Fi while they’re staying at your home. By writing down your password on a piece of paper and giving it to them as they arrive, you can make getting online a lot easier for them. Similarly, by providing each guest with detailed instructions on how to get to your house — including the necessary gate codes — you’re helping them a lot. This would greatly reduce their stress and their journey will be a lot more pleasant.
The moment your guests are in your home, you’d want them to feel that they lack nothing. With that in mind, it would be nice to provide them some breakfast options as well as an assortment of little necessities. Preparing for your guests’ breakfast preferences goes a long way to making them feel comfortable. And by simply adding a basket filled with items like extra toilet paper, clean towels, toiletries, feminine products, and even a hairdryer, they would be able to sense the care you’ve given when receiving them. This act would even spare them from embarrassment in case they forgot to bring their personal hygiene products.
Another nice touch would be to make a list of nearby amenities or attractions. When you offer a list of local sites of interest, you’re helping your guests have a little fun during their stay without feeling wholly reliant on you. As for their sleeping arrangements, give them a sleeping space with all the comforts they’ll need to settle in. Also, for the tenants without an extra bedroom, offering a comfortable air mattress, chair for clothing, a lamp or nightlight, and a fan will help everyone rest easy.
As you do everything you can to make sure your guests are comfortable, you also need to remember your responsibilities as a tenant. Most landlords know that holiday parties and the guests that attend them are a given when celebrating the holidays, that’s why many of them included specific language in your lease that restricts the number of guests and the length of time that any guest can stay. Because of this, it is important to know the terms of your lease before making any holiday plans. The last thing you want is for your neighbors to complain to your landlord or the local authorities, ruining your holiday.
The general rule is when you’re planning holiday get-togethers and parties, try to keep them within reason. Observe local noise ordinances and quiet hours during the night. Do everything possible to keep your guests from becoming a nuisance to your neighbors by parking their cars in front of their houses, driveways, and so on. It would be a good practice to make the number of guests somewhat small to keep from angering your neighbors or your landlord.
Lastly, be sure to check with your landlord if one or more of your guests will be staying with you for an extended period. Long-term guests who overstay their welcome and be counted as an unauthorized tenant, creating a great deal of trouble for you. If it isn’t clear for you how long your guests can stay before your landlord will want them to start paying rent, ask. In fact, communicating with your landlord or property management company is a good strategy for any doubts that may arise.
The fantastic news? Real Property Management Anchor has a team of McDonough property managers who know the importance of communicating with both tenants and owners while clarifying lease terms and enforcing the rules if necessary. Whether you’re looking for a rental or would like us to manage your property, contact us and see how we can help you this holiday season.
We are pledged to the letter and spirit of U.S. policy for the achievement of equal housing opportunity throughout the Nation. See Equal Housing Opportunity Statement for more information.
