Showing your tenants who is boss.

[Ihe O.]

A lease like any other contract stipulate rights AND obligations for BOTH parties.

So dear landlord. Have you made all repairs within the contractually stipulated time. Have you always given requisite notice prior to visits. Have you always provided receipts for rent payments as required. 

Do you know that a tenant can get you issued with a code violation without giving you a chance to make repairs. Yes they can - it's happened to me and once a City Inspector pays you a visit it is open season on any other defects they find irrespective of whether they were reported. Do you know how much that could cost you.

Have you thought about how difficult a tenant could make your life if they insisted on strict compliance of every express and implied term in a lease. Did you put them in a hotel the last time conditions in the house gave rise to a situation that entitled them to demand it.

Do you know that a tenant  can argue that you are not entitled to enforce a contract if they can show you are in breach of  your obligations (note I did not say rights) under it. 

Because if I were a tenant faced with a landlord who was trying to show me who was boss that is exactly what I would do to rein you in.