Visiting friends and family is a common part of life. Unfortunately, rental agreements can pose issues regarding visitor policies. The three most important things to consider when setting visitor policies are maintaining the safety of your tenants, abiding by fair housing laws, and clarifying visitor expectations. With these considerations in mind, here are five ways you can set visitor policies in your rental agreements with descriptions for each idea.
Hire a property manager
The first way that visitor policies can be managed is hiring a professional property manager to enforce them on-site. As much as you want to be able to keep an eye on the comings and goings at your property yourself, it’s not always possible or practical due to time constraints or other obligations. Plus, not all landlords are familiar with the ins and outs of fair housing law. A property manager is likely to be well-versed in both areas and can help keep your rental agreement visitor policies compliant.
Create a visitor log
The second way to manage visitor policy is by creating a visitor log. This method can be helpful in two ways: it can provide an easy way for tenants to track who is coming and going, and it can provide a record if there are any disputes regarding visitors. In order to make the visitor log most effective, make sure that you include the following information for each visitor: name, date of visit, purpose of visit, and contact information. This will help you keep track of who is visiting your property and why.
Require visitor consent forms
The third way to manage visitor policy is by requiring visitor consent forms. This approach can be helpful in ensuring that each visitor has agreed to the terms and conditions of your rental agreement, including visitor policies. Visitors can sign the form before they arrive on-site, or you can have them sign it when they check in. This will help avoid any confusion or disputes about who is allowed on the property and under what conditions.
Prohibit overnight guests
The fourth way to manage visitor policy is by prohibiting overnight guests. This approach is a bit more restrictive than some of the others, but it can be an effective way to ensure that all visitors are accounted for and that there is no unauthorized occupancy at your property. If you choose to implement this visitor policy, make sure that tenants know in advance.
Ban certain visitors
The final way to manage visitor policy is by banning certain visitors altogether. This approach is most effective if the visitor in question has actually caused some kind of disturbance or has violated previous visitor policies. By banning specific visitors, your rental agreement visitor policies will be clear and unambiguous. Of course, keep in mind that many people share mutual friends with your tenants, so it’s important to communicate visitor restriction judiciously.
By setting visitor policies in your rental agreement, you can help ensure that everyone is aware of the expectations and that everyone stays safe and follows the rules. If you’re not sure how to set visitor policies or need help enforcing them, hiring a property manager is always an option.