Condo Media - January 2010 - 38

HOMEOWNER’S CORNER Landlord Communications What Renters Need to Know f you are a condominium owner who leases your unit, it’s important that you understand your responsibilities to ensure that the leasing experience is successful and positive for everyone. This will help preserve your property value specifically, and maintain the association’s property value in general. Your tenants may not be familiar with common-interest community living. Take a few minutes to explain to tenants that living in a community association is very different from living in a rental apartment community. Specifically, your tenants, like all residents, are subject to I the rules and regulations of the association, and it’s up to you to educate them and see that they comply. The association can assist you in this area, but the responsibility lies with you. Provide tenants with written copies of all policies and rules and advise them on the proper use of the association’s facilities. Copies of useful documents may be obtained from the association or the manager. It is strongly recommended that you have a written lease agreement with your tenant. As a lessor (landlord) of a home in a community association, the lease you use must require tenants to comply with the association’s govern- PERKINS ANCTIL & A T T O R N E Y S A T L AW A full service firm concentrating in Condominium Law Construction Defect Litigation Municipal Law Real Estate Development General Real Estate Matters Collections Estate Planning Serving Massachusetts and New Hampshire 6 Lyberty Way, Suite 201 Westford, MA 01886 (978) 496-2000 800-642- 4906 www.perkinslawpc.com ing documents. In the event your tenant fails to comply with these documents, including the bylaws or its rules and regulations, a representative of the association may first contact your tenants in an attempt to remedy the problem. The association should send you a copy of any notice sent to your tenant. If the tenant does not correct the violation, the association will contact you and expect you to remedy the violation using the recourse available to you through your lease agreement. If you are unable to correct the violation, the association may pursue appropriate legal action against the tenant, and possibly against you. The association may ask that you provide the manager with the names and contact information of your tenants. Your tenants should be added to the association mailing list so they receive the newsletter, invitations to participate in community activities, notices of social activities and general associationrelated information. This information also will be used in case of emergency. Follow these simple steps and you, the tenants and the association will all have a positive community association living experience: • Provide your tenants with copies of association rules. • Educate tenants about the need to follow association rules, and see that they comply. • Advise tenants on the proper use of association facilities. • Use a written lease agreement. • Make sure your lease requires tenants to comply with all association governing documents. • Provide the association with contact information for your tenants. CM CONDO MEDIA • JANUARY 2010 P .C.

Condo Media - January 2010

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of Condo Media - January 2010