Certain tasks are the responsibility of the tenant. This line can be hard to navigate if you don’t read your lease. Here’s a quick glance at a few of those responsibilities.

Basic home responsibilities for the tenant to replace include:

• Lightbulbs
• Furnace filters
• Smoke alarm batteries

Outside of mere replacement, it’s also important that you:

• Keep furniture away from heat sources to avoid any possibility of a fire
• Keep the dwelling clean
• Maintain basic insect and rodent control
• Properly dispose of oil and other solvents
• Take care of the lawn
• keep walkways clear of snow, ice, moss, debris, etc.
• When it’s the cold season be sure to remove exterior hoses and add faucet covers
• Clean up animal droppings
• Avoid damage caused by animals
• Clean your ovens and hood vents
• Prevent mildew in the bathrooms and kitchen
• Properly clean and use fans for ventilation
• Handle holiday lights and decor responsibly

Most of what we ask has to do with cleanliness and preventing damage to the home.

WHEN IS THE TENANT RESPONSIBLE FOR CHARGES RELATED TO CARE OR DAMAGE?

Cases where tenants take on the responsibility of a charge vary. For example, you may be charged in an incident where there was a failure to report a needed repair leading to more damages.

If you put in a report that initiates a service call and nothing is found to be defective, or there was user error involved, then you may be responsible for the charge of that vendor. Instances like this where you cause something, or if occupants/animals allowed on the premises cause damage, then you will be charged for immediate repairs. If you have an appointment with a vendor and fail to be present to provide access you will be charged a “no-show” fee.

You as the tenant are the best gauge of what is happening at the property at any given moment. If you notice something that feels suspicious or concerning, please report it. This could be leaks, plumbing back up, or electrical problems. Some things should be evaluated by the tenant before a report, these maintenance instructions can be found within your lease. For example, if you experience electrical problems, attempt to check if the breaker was tripped. If a smoke detector is inoperable, change the batteries first to find if that’s the issue. If you experience pest issues, attempt customary pest treatment on your own. If you are without positive results, submit a maintenance request.

While minor home solutions should be attempted first, you are NOT to perform repairs (unless you are authorized by MVP, always ask first). Report what you see using the Maintenance Request feature in your portal and provide as much detail as possible, including photos if able.

If there are any questions about these responsibilities or your lease, please reach out to the team. We want to ensure you understand your responsibilities and how we can work together to keep your home safe and sound.