Moving often is never easy. Most renters know this, which is why they may feel a special bond with a property that they live in for years. If they haven’t handled moving out very well, tenants may even try to take advantage of their prior occupancy by storing personal items on your Washington Township property, coming back to pick up their mail, or even continuing to access the internet.
Your former renters might assume that they can just come back to the property anytime to do minor tasks or to access the amenities they used to enjoy. However, right after they give the keys back to the property owner or property management company, the former tenant has no right to access the property, and if they do try to access it, they are trespassing.
It is your duty as the property owner to communicate these facts to your tenants. They may not understand that property owners and property management professionals must enter the property immediately after a renter vacates to look at the state of the home and to begin preparations for the next tenant. They may also not know that handing in their keys means that they have given up their rights to the property and even their rights to personal property left at the rental home.
Explaining to your renters how to plan to move out is an integral part of a successful rental process. Giving instructions for moving out, like a checklist of important tasks, could go a long way in helping your tenants complete the move-out correctly. You should also inform tenants that 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 facilities is no longer allowed.
These types of conversations are our specialty at Real Property Management Silverstone. Our property management professionals can handle the move-out process from start to finish, ensuring that your tenants have the knowledge and resources they need to surrender the property when they turn in the keys. For more information about how our Washington Township property management services can serve you, contact us online or call us at 586-992-6419.
We are pledged to the letter and spirit of U.S. policy for the achievement of equal housing opportunity throughout the Nation. See Equal Housing Opportunity Statement for more information.
