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What Does “Home for the Holidays” Mean for Your Tenants?

Grandparents Visiting for ChristmasOne of the nicest things that happen during the holiday season is that we get to be with our family and friends. When you are a renter and those loved ones come to visit, however, there are some things that you should know. These important things ensure that the visit would be comfortable and that it doesn’t violate the terms of your lease. These points fall in either of the two groups. The first one is making your friends and family feel welcome during the holiday. The second one is knowing the responsibilities you have as a tenant when guests visit. With these points, you have a way of maintaining 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 example, most of the guests staying in your home would want access to your Wi-Fi. By taking a piece of paper and writing down your password before they arrive, you can make getting online a whole lot easier and more convenient for them. In the same way, giving each guest detailed instructions on how to get to your house would be very helpful. Also, remember to include any necessary gate codes. This would be a nice touch and can make their journey a lot smoother and easier.

Once your guests are in your home, you want them to feel that they don’t lack anything. Something you can do is to provide some breakfast options they can choose from as well as an assortment of little necessities. Providing for your guests’ breakfast preferences can help them feel welcome and cared for. And the added touch of giving them a basket filled with items like extra toilet paper, clean towels, toiletries, feminine products, and even a hairdryer, can save them from embarrassment in case they forgot something.

There’s another nice thing you can do for them. Create a list of nearby amenities or attractions. This allows your guests to plan to have a little fun visiting local sites of interest during their stay without feeling wholly reliant on you. And for their sleeping space, arrange it so that they’ll have all the comforts they’ll need to settle in. Also, for the tenants without an extra bedroom, placing a comfortable air mattress, chair for clothing, a lamp or nightlight, and a fan will help everyone rest easy.

Now as you do your part as a gracious host to make your guests feel welcomed, you also need to remember your responsibilities as a tenant. Practically all landlords know that holiday parties and the guests that attend them are part and parcel of celebrating the holidays. This is why a lot of them purposely included specific language in your lease that restricts the number of guests and the length of time that any guest can stay. Consequently, it is important to know the terms of your lease before making any holiday plans. Nothing could be worse than having your holiday ruined because your neighbors complain to your landlord or the local authorities.

The general rule of planning holiday get-togethers and parties is to keep them within reason. Observe local noise ordinances and quiet hours during the night. Do everything you can 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 may be good to try and keep your number of guests somewhat small to keep yourself on the good side of your neighbors or your landlord.

Finally, remember 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 may be considered as an unauthorized tenant, and this would create a heap of problems for you. If you’re unsure about 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 the best thing to do when anything isn’t very clear.

Have you heard? Real Property Management Commonwealth has a team of Boston property managers who see to it that they communicate 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.

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