Seems I've been on a roll here the last few days in regard to rental properties. I've talked about Rental Property Owners and Property Managers. Today I'd like to have a conversation with Tenants.
In my years as a REALTOR® I have seen it -- well I hesitate to say ALL, but I've seen a lot! And some of the worst things I've seen have been as a result of tenants who do not RESPECT the property they are renting.
I've seen trash in the bathtubs, floors so dirty you can't even tell what color they are, busted blinds, cracked windows, stains on carpet, refrigerators with dirt half an inch thick, trash thrown out in the yard, pet stains on carpets and walls, chewed and broken blinds, holes in doors, missing door handles or pulls, broken shelving and doors. Told you I've seen a lot!
I can't even imagine living in some of the filth I've seen. But if that's how you choose to live then I suggest you buy your own home to trash. Trashing a home that you are renting is legally AND morally wrong. The rights you enjoy as a tenant do not extend to destroying a home that someone else owns.
When you enter into a lease, you are not just getting a place to store your things, or throw great parties with no regard to the results, you are getting a home. It is not a repository for your trash. Whether it's pristine or not when you move in, it is not your property -- you need to show some 
respect and take care of it. If it is not clean on your move-in date, contact the Property Manager or Landlord immediately. It is their job to see that the home is in move-in condition. It is your job to keep it clean once you are living there.
If something breaks, whether it's your fault or not, you NEED to tell the Property Manager or Landlord IMMEDIATELY! By the way, it's a good idea to follow-up in writing. They need to know as soon as possible so that the issue can be addressed before it becomes too large to fix easily. It may be an issue which requires notification to an insurance company and your Property Manager or Landlord only has a small window of time in which to accomplish this. And unless you want them to come by weekly to inspect the property, you must do this.
Keep the house clean! If you spill something, CLEAN IT UP! If you, your child or your pet makes a mess on the carpet -- CLEAN IT! Wipe off the counters, clean the windows, don't leave rotting food in the refrigerator. It stinks up the whole house! Vacuum the house regularly. It's much easier to keep it clean than it is to have to do a deep clean.
If you are fortunate enough to have found a property which will allow you to have pets -- TENANTS, SHOW SOME RESPECT TO THE HOME YOU ARE RENTING! Don't let your animals mess in the house. Regularly clean up the pet hair they leave behind. An Owner who will let you have pets in a rental property is doing YOU a favor. Return it by behaving like a responsible pet owner and tenant.
Keep the yard cleaned up and the grass cut. You are hurting everyone in the neighborhood when you don't do this. And if you think the neighbors don't care -- don't kid yourself. If the HOA decides to go after the Owner, guess who the Owner is going to go after? You do realize that you can be evicted for not holding-up your end of the bargain; don't you?
Your Property Manager and/or Landlord are not your adversaries, they are your partners in this. You do 
your part and they will do theirs. Should they not, you have recourse available to you. Read your lease carefully and fully, be aware of what is expected of you and of them.
When you treat your rental home with respect, you are also treating yourself with respect. Which will encourage your Property Manager and/or Landlord to treat you with respect. It's a really good circle to be a part of!
Arriving at my new construction inspection I was met by the supervisor on the front porch. We had met before on the pre-drywall inspection, so we recognized each other as I approached.
