Moving out of rental homes can be stressful for renters. If they have lived in a rental home for several years, they may feel a special bond with the property even after they have turned in the keys. If they haven’t managed their move well, tenants may take advantage of their prior occupancy by storing personal items on your Toledo property, coming back to pick up their mail, or even continuing to access the internet.
Some renters think that they can go back to the property anytime to do small tasks or access the amenities they used to enjoy, but once they hand the keys back to the property owner or property management company, former tenants have no claim on the rental property. If they do try to access the property or any related amenities, they are trespassing and may be violating the law.
As a property owner, you need to explain these details to your tenants. They might not know that property owners and property management professionals must access the property after a renter leaves to gauge the state of the home and to start preparations for the next tenant. They may also not know that handing over their keys means that they have given up their rights to the rental property and may even be giving up their rights to personal property left at the home.
Helping your renters prepare to move out is part of a successful rental process. Giving move-out instructions, such as a list of required tasks, could help your tenants complete the move-out correctly and efficiently. Tenants should be informed that fundamental move-out tasks, such as forwarding mail, moving out all possessions, and cleaning the property, must be finished before the final exchange of keys. It is also important to explain that access to the property and all amenities is no longer permitted.
These kinds of conversations are our specialty at Real Property Management Clarity Team. Our property management professionals can manage the move-out process from start to finish, ensuring that your tenants have the information they need to surrender the property when they turn in the keys. For more information about how our Toledo property management services can assist you, contact us online or call us at 567-200-2320.