Home » Home & Style » Condo Living » Leave Your Community on Good Terms

Leave Your Community on Good Terms

© Regina Ludes

Recently, a former resident called the management office where I work. "Debra" lived for a short time at one of our properties and was in the process of purchasing a home. She had discovered on her credit report that there was an outstanding legal judgment against her from several years ago for lack of payment of her rent. Naturally, Debra was shocked and dismayed. She had forgotten about the dispute, and now had to make a significant payment in order to clear the judgment so she could buy her home.

Debra's experience teaches us all the importance of clearing up our debts as quickly as possible and leaving the community on the best possible terms. When you walk out of your apartment for the last time, have you resolved all outstanding issues with the landlord? Or have you buried some issue that could rear its ugly head years later?

Here are a few suggestions to make sure your relationship with your landlord is rock solid and you leave the community on good terms.

1) Follow the terms and conditions of your lease agreement. Remember, the lease is a legal document that outlines your rights and responsibilities as well as those of your landlord. If you do not fulfill your part of the deal, the landlord has the legal right to take action against you. Even if you think the landlord is a jerk and a slumlord, you are still responsible for following the terms and conditions of the lease agreement.

2) Pay your rent in full and on time every month while you are under lease. Never skip a payment and avoid partial payments. If you are short on cash, ask a friend or family member if they can loan you money so you can pay your rent in full. Most leases do provide a brief grace period, usually three to five days. Beyond that time, there is generally a penalty. Begging for mercy or asking for an extension usually does not go over well with most landlords and management companies, so be diligent about paying your rent on time.

3) Be neat and clean. Clean up after yourself, especially after you move out. This should be common sense, but then, every person seems to have a different idea about what is clean. If you've been conscientious about cleaning throughout your stay in your apartment, there will be less to clean up when you move out. Use appropriate cleaning supplies, especially in the kitchen and bathroom where mold and mildew can form quickly. Don't forget the less obvious places such as the inside of the oven and refrigerator. The landlord can and will charge you for any dirty appliances you leave behind (I should know -- that happened to me when I moved out of my first apartment).

The copyright of the article Leave Your Community on Good Terms in Condo Living is owned by . Permission to republish Leave Your Community on Good Terms in print or online must be granted by the author in writing.