After the termination of the lease, on inspection I found that my tenant’s dog caused damage to my rental unit .
Full Question:
My tenant’s dog has caused a lot of damage to my rental unit in Lawrence, Kansas. I can’t afford to fix it on my own. The lease was terminated last week and it was during the inspection of the unit that I found these damages to the property. What do I do in this situation?
12/22/2016 |
Category: Landlord Ten... » Mitigate Dam... |
State: Kansas |
#28590
Answer:
“The tenant shall: (a) Comply with all obligations primarily imposed upon tenants by applicable provisions of building and housing codes materially affecting health and safety;
(b) keep that part of the premises that such tenant occupies and uses as clean and safe as the condition of the premises permit;
(c) remove from such tenant's dwelling unit all ashes, rubbish, garbage and other waste in a clean and safe manner;
(d) keep all plumbing fixtures in the dwelling unit or used by the tenant as clean as their condition permits;
(e) use in a reasonable manner all electrical, plumbing, sanitary, heating, ventilating, air-conditioning and other facilities and appliances, including elevators in the premises;
(f) be responsible for any destruction, defacement, damage, impairment or removal of any part of the premises caused by an act or omission of the tenant or by any person or animal or pet on the premises at any time with the express or implied permission or consent of the tenant;
(g) not engage in conduct or allow any person or animal or pet, on the premises with the express or implied permission or consent of the tenant, to engage in conduct that will disturb the quiet and peaceful enjoyment of the premises by other tenants.”
In the case at hand, the tenant is in complete violation of the above-quoted provision. He did not take due care and caused damage to the property. In these circumstances, the landlord has the option of taking the tenant to court and recovering the damages or to reduce such damages from the security deposit amount per K.S.A. § 58-2550. K.S.A. § 58-2550 reads:
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(b) Upon termination of the tenancy, any security deposit held by the landlord may be applied to the payment of accrued rent and the amount of damages which the landlord has suffered by reason of the tenant's noncompliance with K.S.A. 58-2555, and amendments thereto, and the rental agreement, all as itemized by the landlord in a written notice delivered to the tenant. If the landlord proposes to retain any portion of the security deposit for expenses, damages or other legally allowable charges under the provisions of the rental agreement, other than rent, the landlord shall return the balance of the security deposit to the tenant within 14 days after the determination of the amount of such expenses, damages or other charges, but in no event to exceed 30 days after termination of the tenancy, delivery of possession and demand by the tenant. If the tenant does not make such demand within 30 days after termination of the tenancy, the landlord shall mail that portion of the security deposit due the tenant to the tenant's last known address.
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