Non-monetary Landlord Tenant Laws

[Account Closed]

I've had no trouble digging up the local landlord tenant laws as they pertain to monetary issues--how much of a deposit can you charge, how much of a late fee, etc.

But what I'm trying to find out is what rules I can put in my lease.  Such as no trash/car on concrete blocks/etc. in the yard.  No alterations to the structure without my approval--e.g. satellite dish drilled into my roof.  No more than x number of cars parked unless it is for less than x days or approved by me.  Etc, etc.  Now, there is a monetary aspect because in order to actually enforce these rules, I want to associate penalty fees with the violation of such.  

In the past I've only had single family homes in pretty nice neighborhoods, and I've never had any issues with the standard lease document that the Texas Real Estate Commission puts out.  However, I am about to build a small multifamily complex and I feel like I need more aggressive rules to keep the place attractive to the kinds of tenants I want.

I will probably have a RE attorney glance at my proposed lease, but in general is it usually permissible to establish these kinds of rules with financial penalty?

[Deanna McCormick]

I would suggest that you also make up a cohesive "POLICY PACKET" that is addendum to your lease.

In the policy packet you address everything that involves what your addressing,

Your city has codes about parking regulations that will back you up on regulations, you can limit the number of cars per your parking lots.. so no parking on the grass ect., no car repairs on the property permitted. Post your property unauthorized cars will be towed. and have tenant give you license of cars they have on move in. 

Our apartment complex had a policy packet that was 16 pages,, included everything , also had a page with moveout cleaning charges like clean the stove was $125.00 , missing blinds were $35.00 for window, 85.00 for patio, clean window were $15.00 each for example.

It gave noise requirements, where to dispose of trash, what was acceptable for trash, and listed charge for any large items left like couch was $50.00 to dispose of, mattress $25.00 box spring $25.00 so we were covered if they put any large items out.

It covered roommate changes to lease, what a lease buyout fee was, how to pay your rent, how to give proper notice, late fee charges, charges to change lock,, how much lock out charge was to come and open your door. 

How to use appliances, when to change a/c filters, not to disturb smoke detectors.

We also had a Crime Free / Drug Free Addendum 

Tenants signed they received a copy at move in and it was good handbook.