Lease tips during Covid?

[Beau Ordemann]

Hey BP! Looking for tips or language to add to a lease (especially during covid) that better protects the landlord against tenants choosing not pay. Has anyone made revisions during this crisis that create greater accountability? Or, has anyone had success negotiating with property managers to guarantee the tenants they place for a certain amount of time?

[Account Closed]

The protection you're looking for should come from your tenant screening, not any additional language. Rent is due on this day, period, if not paid, X will happen.

Screen, screen, screen, screen, verify, verify, verify, verify. Check everything. Don't take any information you're given, verify everything.

Just recently had an applicant who kept telling me her landlord had not heard from us. The number she gave me, probably a friend, wasn't what we called. We called the office, got the number from Google, did a real verification.

Hadn't paid rent since COVID, active eviction pending held up by the courts, $10K behind.

Verify, verify, verify. Vacant is better than risk, even if your owner is all over you.