It’s important to know what can be done to keep things under control in terms of social gatherings in your Charlestown rental homes. Read on about the top three things landlords must know about Memorial Day parties in their rental homes.
1. Put It in the Lease
Ensuring that your residents’ Memorial Day celebrations do not turn into large events that increase the risk of damage and liability can be very challenging. How many people is too many for your rental home? Can (and should) you try to restrict your residents from consuming alcohol? What is your policy about residents grilling or building fires in the yard? Answering these questions beforehand allows you to designate boundaries for your residents’ parties before they even happen.
The maximum number of party guests, tolerable noise levels, and other items can all be addressed in your lease documents. Make your lease documents with well-crafted statements that explicitly limit the number of guests your residents can have, with larger numbers requiring special permission. The number may vary, but “no more than 10 for fewer than four hours” is a popular pick.
2. The Do’s and Don’ts of Alcohol and Grilling Policies
There is usually the consumption of alcohol during large parties. Since you can’t legally prohibit alcohol on your property, there must be specific language in your lease regarding illegal activities. It is also important to lay out the specific consequences of allowing such activity on your rental property.
When residents want to grill or otherwise have open flames on the property, the lease should have already explained the rules and safety issues related to fire. Even quality barbecue grills can become a fire hazard if misused, so you should be clear whether grills are allowed and under what terms.
3. Renters Insurance and Renters Legal Liability
Make sure that your residents have their own renters insurance. The possibility of damage and injury increases considerably if a large gathering does occur. If damage or injury does occur, you could be held responsible unless residents have their own insurance coverage.
In regards to any party or social gathering at this time, please keep in mind the current recommendations by the CDC. Although there are places in the U.S. that are opening back up, most areas still restrict gatherings to a certain number of people. Remind your Charlestown tenants to be mindful of current restrictions within their city or state to keep themselves and your community safe.
Be diligent in enforcing the terms of the lease agreement so that you ensure that your property is protected. If a party gets out of hand and loud, destructive, or illegal activity is taking place, see to it that you act promptly and decisively to hold your residents accountable.
That is the reason we are here! Let us help you! At Real Property Management Commonwealth, we will monitor activity in the residence and help you craft lease documents designed to keep party plans within acceptable limits. You can contact us or call us at 617-299-2342 for more info today!