I agree Cwadda... So today I received a lease from a property I inquired about a few weeks ago. Better in many ways from some I have seen lately, but still written by the Apartment Association of Northwestern Pennsylvania, Inc; same place that wrote the B.S. gotcha crap lease I saw a couple weeks earlier. This lease contains:
26. REPAIRS
Landlord is required to perform only the following repairs:
(1) roof, (2) foundation, (3) structure, or (4) repairs required
by law. Tenant must pay for all other repairs. Tenant will
immediately tell Landlord in writing if any such repairs
are needed.
Does structure cover the toilet, water heater, stove, dishwasher, etc??? Yeah, I know, ask. Just the same, kinda vague, and I need to look up PA statute and code too?
17. EXTERMINATION OF PESTS
Landlord is responsible to eliminate any infestations of
insects, vermin, or other pests which may exist when
Tenant first takes possession of the Rental Unit, or which
are required by law. Tenant must report any pre-existing
infestations to Landlord in writing within the first five (5)
days of taking possession.
Tenant is responsible to provide all other exterminating
services required to eliminate any infestations of insects,
vermin, or other pests which occur in the Rental Unit
during this Lease.
So if a bee colony decides to fill a wall void, groundhog burrows under the garage, or termites infest the home I gotta cover it??? No effin way, are these LL's crazy?
No flammable, explosive, hazardous or toxic chemicals or
substances are allowed in or around the Rental Unit.
I have to cut the grass with a gasoline mower stored in the garage... How exactly do I keep a can of gas around? How bout extremely flammable nail polish, paint, paint thinner, WD-40, cooking oil, rubbing *and* drinking alcohol (hey I like 151 rum), etc fall under this category... WTF?
Boy do I miss the days of 1/2 page leases, and a handshake. I never had a problem with these, and they never had anything but an absolute model tenant... They were always the best LL's too (had one build me a shooting berm in the backyard). Well, I have another rental to consider, and hope the lease is along the lines of a half-page, and a handshake; not this corporatey legal mumbo-jumbo bullshit. Damn, I know they gotta cover their ass, but these leases sure seem to leave mine hanging in the wind.