dis-incentives/ fines for bad behavior

[Colleen F.]

Ok there are late fees and buyout the lease clauses. We even have a fee associated with a citation for our student rentals but what other fines/fees/disincentives can you enforce? I have a tenant , thankfully she is moving out but she leaves her apartment door open and the door to the building open in the middle of winter. I took that props the door open thing off the door so she can't leave it completely open but we pay the heat and even with me there she still opens her apartment and leaves just the storm door with the main building door open so anyone can walk in. It is a safe area but it is inconsiderate. Can you have a dis-incentive for that kind of stuff? What have people done that works? She is only here another week but in case I get another jerk like this I am wondering what I might be okay to do.

[Marcia Maynard]

We have a number of items for which we charge violation fees. I made a charge form that lists them. Easy for me to check the boxes that apply and bill the tenant. I do this first. If the tenant does not pay up, then I serve a legal notice to comply for both the violation and for not paying the fee. Also, by putting all of the violation fee items on one document, it reminds the tenant of other rules they must remember to follow. Here is the core of that document:

As per the terms of your rental agreement, we are assessing you with the following fees for violation of rental agreement terms. We hate to have to do this. We would much rather you follow the terms of your agreement.

Please review your rental agreement. The following items have a violation fee attached. We have marked the ones that apply to you.

* Rent Late Fee ($50) - Rent not paid or postmarked by the 5th of the month.

* Non-Sufficient Funds Fee ($20) - Check could not be processed by bank.

* Unauthorized Occupant Fee ($50) - Individuals not on the rental agreement are staying in the unit past the period allowed for guests and without the approval of the landlord.

* Unauthorized Pet Fee ($50) - Pets/Animals not on the rental agreement have been in the unit without the approval of the landlord.

* Smoking Penalty Fee ($50) - Smoking in the unit or on the premises by either the tenant or the guests of the tenant.

* Smoke Detector or Carbon Monoxide Detector Tamper Fee - Detection device in the unit has been tampered with and is not functioning (Up to $200). [Note: We could charge up to $200 and we tell the tenant that. Then we charge them only $20. They readily pay because they think they are getting a break.]

* Service Charges ($20) - For each legal notice served related to a violation, such as "notice to comply" or "notice to pay rent or quit."