Tenants leaving things in hallways?

Question

Hi All, One issue of contention over the years I've found is tenants using the hallways as personal storage. Typically when I leave a note/ ask the items do not leave or return eventually. This is not effective. I'm pretty busy so I don't have time to be wasting communicating/ keeping track of items in hallways so I sometimes throw away items when there are signs stating "no storage" and it says in lease items will be disposed of. Obviously I get complaints about this but they do get the message. Has anyone found any better methods to prevent storage in the hallways? Thanks, Tom

Bettina F. · Answer

Nothing looks more ghetto than tenants leaving their personal belongings in common areas. It can quickly spiral out of control and be a tripping/fire hazard to the other tenants. This is part of my pre-move in Landlord Speech and is clearly prohibited in the rules section of our lease. I would issue a legal Cure or Quit and enforce it. The good news is that you will only have to evict one tenant and the entire building will shape up.

Bettina F. · Answer

We actually have garden apartments and our issue is tenants leaving kid's toys and bikes in our newly landscaped flower beds, crushing the plants. GrrrrI don't know why the cut and paste came out backwards. They are numbered 1-13 in our rental agreement.Here you go:13.Any illegal substance use on the part of TENANT, his/her family or guests shall be cause for expedited eviction.12.No parities may be held at this residence.A party is defined as any gathering of guests that creates a noise level that can be heard by neighboring tenants.11.Absolutely no waterbeds or water furnishings may be used in or on the premises unless otherwise provided herein.10.Nails may not be put in the walls without prior written permission from the LANDLORD.Nail holes should be small and unnoticeable.If the holes are large or visible, a charge of $5.00 for each hole will be made for repair.No decals or contact paper is to be put on any woodwork, walls, appliances, or cabinets.Nothing may be taped to any walls.9.TENANT will see that the conduct of him/her self, his/her family, and guests are not disorderly, boisterous, or unlawful; that it does not interfere with the rights or comforts of the other persons on or adjacent to the premises and that visits by the police to the premises for any of the above is grounds for eviction.8.TENANT will promptly report all leaking faucets or toilets.Water shall not be left running except in winter, when it is sometimes used to prevent frozen pipes.Tenant will accept all responsibility for due to neglect, including frozen pipes. 7.TENANT will properly operate all appliances, fixtures, and plumbing supplied by the LANDLORD.This includes, but is not limited to, coin operated appliances used by TENANTS.6.TENANT will keep clean and sanitary and comply with all laws and ordinances.5.TENANT will reimburse LANDLORD for replacing all broken glass regardless of cause.4.The LANDLORD will maintain the yards in cases of an apartment building with common grounds.TENANT will in case show proper respect and care of the surrounding yard and property of the residence.TENANT agrees to pay for all damages done to the yards, shrubs, trees, etc. by him/ herself, guests or agents.Parking any motor vehicles on the lawn or landscape is also forbidden. Children’s toys will not be left in common areas, or in flower beds.3.TENANT will notify LANDLORD when leaving for an extended amount of time (more than 2 weeks).2.No animals or pets of any kind shall be kept or harbored on the premises without written permission from the LANDLORD. Such permissions will be entered under the “special provisions” sections of this agreement or an attached addendum of this agreement. Additional charges may be made for pets. Visitor’s pets are also not allowed.1.No smoking is allowed in dwellings.Any smoking in dwelling constitutes a violation of the lease agreement.TENANTS will lose full deposit.TENANT agrees to abide by the following set of RULES for residents of the premises:

Thomas Hickey · Answer

Bettina F. Thank you good idea on the notice to quit. Hoping it never becomes that severe, but it could certainly bring the entire building down

John Kim · Answer

@Bettina F.Your rules section seems pretty detailed. It would not occur to me to include clean hallways in a lease. What else do you have in there?