Penalty/fee schedule for tenants?

[Brandon Schlichter]

This year we've had a few problems with houses falling in disrepair due to tenant neglect. This is of course our fault for not strictly enforcing regular inspections.

 However, up to this point, our leases have had just general 'good care and cleaning' clauses. There were no teeth to them and the tenants for one reason or another are trying to skirt around doing what they need to.

So, I've been thinking of having tenants sign a fee schedule for them not taking care of things. Picking up trash, mowing the yard, not reporting bug problems, etc. Also being more strict about no-pets without payment. 

Most of my properties are lower end, but that doesn't mean that people should live like animals (I think this goes without saying). So my current method of thinking is trying to get them on the understanding, at lease-up that we have standards that will be enforced or they'll have to pay for it.

Any thoughts on putting fees like this in the lease? One idea would to be make them punative, but the other would be to go at it from a structure that might make it something attractive to them if I provide lawncare service (Right now I've got a guy that will mow any yard for $10, and normally people charge $20 or so around here). So in that case, charging tenants $50/month to cut their grass might be something they'd do, and I'd also make money. 

[Tracy D.]

I have a contract with a lawn service for mowing all of my lawns. My homes are all single family and I pay to mow them all through the service. Before I started doing this, I was constantly getting notices from the city. The fact is, most tenants will never take care of your property the way you would. If you find city fines stressful and code violations, take that on yourself. And you must keep up on your investments. Why spend all that money and then let them fall into disrepair? This is bad for you, your tenants, and your tenants neighbors.