Move-in, Move-out, know your rights.

The weather is turning a bit better in Jackson County these days and that means a lot of people are
moving — both into and out of the area but they are moving.
Laurel Adams, the owner of AllCities Property Management, addressed the issue of move-in; move-out on rental properties and what rights the tenant and the landlord have especially when things go South.   How can they go South you ask?  It turns out pretty easy.
On the Real Estate Show from 28 April, this topic is discussed at length and it may be worth listening to especially if you find yourself or someone you know facing this situation.
For the Landlord, when a tenant moves in it is imperative that you go over the property with the new tenant.  Take photos of things, especially of potential problems with the property.    The tenant should also take photos and make notes because at time of move out the landlord and tenant can come to clashes over the amount of refunds or deposits that go back to the tenant.
If you paid  a months rent and a security deposit, you as a tenant want it all back.  But what about wear and tear on the property and any destruction that takes place.     Well the law is pretty simple, a landlord cannot keep your deposits for regular wear and team on a property.  They can keep your deposits if you as a tenant have not maintained it property and have things like holes in a wall for an example.   That’s where having photographs is so important.
Without them, both landlord and tenant are vulnerable.   With them, it can be cut and dry.
Remember another thing, a landlord has 30 days from when the keys are returned to them to give you back your deposit.  If it goes over 30 days, the tenant has the right to collect three times the deposit.  If that isn’t enough incentive to do things right with rentals then I don’;t know what is.  Renters know the rules too so landlords need to be aware as well.
Bottom line, take photographs of the rental, walk through the property to see any defects it may have and document them.  Move in and moved out of rentals is something more of us need to take seriously.  It will save the landlord money and stress.   It will save the tenant from having to sue the landlord and on and on it goes.
In the end, landlords and tenants need to know the rules and follow them.  The Southern Oregon Rental Owners Association has classes on these topics and with lots of new investors in the rental market, that is not a bad idea at all;.
You’ll enjoy this show.