Hot Takes on Summer Shenanigans

by Alex Reynolds, The Law Office of Jennifer McCoy

Picture this: You’re giving a potential new resident an amenity tour when you notice a resident lying by the community pool enjoying an adult beverage that is dripping condensation off the glass bottle onto the concrete, creating a perfect circle next to his red, white, and blue towel. While considering how to handle this lease violating behavior on a hot, sunny, 85-degree day, you notice another resident lighting a grill on her third-floor balcony overlooking your pool, all the while allowing the fresh summer air to flow freely through her wide-open balcony door. This seemingly perfect summer day has suddenly turned into one giant lease violation. So what should you do? Let’s go through some of the hottest summer community shenanigans and how to cool them down!

Pool Perils

To be sure, your beautiful apartment community should have its pool policies, rules and regulations listed in the lease and posted prominently at the pool. These policies exist to protect both your residents as well as your asset. All glass and sharp objects, for example, should be banned from the pool and surrounding area, as such items create a potentially hazardous environment and could cause significant injury. Violators of any pool policy should receive a 14-Day Notice to Cure for failure to comply and perhaps even a possible ban for the remainder of the pool season.

Hot Grill Summer

Hamburger or hot dog? Don’t care, as long it isn’t being grilled on an apartment balcony. Not only does your lease prohibit gas, charcoal, propane tanks/grills or any open flame to be used or stored on patios/balconies, but it is also a violation of local fire codes. The use of any grill or open flame poses a serious fire hazard to the community. Like his neighbor receiving a lease violation notice for glass by the pool, Mr. Grill Master3000 should also get a 14-Day Notice to Cure for violation of the lease. Regardless of whether the grill is being used or not, if a grill is present on a resident’s balcony, it is important to act immediately to prevent a potentially catastrophic event. If your community is equipped with a public grilling station, encourage your residents to utilize this amenity.

What’s Bugging You?

Summertime provides myriad possibilities for your residents, like opening their windows for some of that sweet, summer air. This, however, could potentially cause some serious issues for your property, including the dreaded pest infestation. Unless otherwise specified in the lease, it is the resident’s responsibility to notify you, the landlord, of any suspected pest problem. Additionally, it is your residents’ obligation to cooperate with the treatment of any confirmed presence or infestation of pests. Make sure you keep an eye on your pest inquiries and stay in touch with your pest vendor!

Be Cool

After a long day by the pool, you certainly do not want to hear from a resident that his or her air conditioning is not functioning properly. First things first – do a little investigating. Have windows been left open with the air