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As a renter, lease violations are easy to commit if you haven’t thoroughly read your lease agreement. How often have you taken the time to thoroughly read through a lease before you sign it? If you’re like most tenants, you probably skim the text for dollar signs, but otherwise assume you won’t violate any terms of the lease because you’re a generally good person.

Yet, in so doing, you’re legally binding yourself to an agreement you may not fully understand. This is the situation many renters find themselves in, especially when it comes to lease violations they didn’t even know existed. Here are 7 examples.

1. You bought a new car or borrowed your friend’s car while yours is in the shop. Most leases require tenants to register all vehicles with the leasing office. Neglecting to do so is a violation and can result in a fine or towing. Yes, even when just borrowing.
2. You support your favorite candidate with a campaign sign in your window. While political opinions aren’t against the rules, going against property uniformity may be. Look closely and you may find that your property has a rule against placing anything in or around the unit that keeps it from looking like others.
3. You decide to grill steaks out on the patio. If using an electric grill, you’re probably okay. But, open flames are a big no-no near building or overhangs and can result in fines or worse due to the risk of fire.
4. You leave town for a couple of weeks for a much-needed vacation. Indignant that your property may have a rule against getting away? Consider it a way to protect yourself and your belongings. Landlords will most often want to know if you’ll be away for extended periods of time. They will be more alert to your unit, watching it while you’re away. You may have to sign an agreement that he/she can enter while you’re away in the event of an emergency.
5. You let a friend spend the night…with her new kitten. If your property has a “no pets” policy, it covers even one-night stays. You could wind up facing a hefty fine even with the best of intentions.
6. You let a friend spend the night…for the whole month while she’s searching for her own apartment. You must be the nicest person on Earth. Yet, your lease likely specifies how long a guest is considered such before they are considered a tenant who needs to sign the lease and pay additional rent.
7. You find a great bundle and sign up for satellite TV. Attaching a dish to the owner’s property is usually not allowed, and it’s not the satellite company’s job to know it. Imagine having to pay to have the dish removed due to a lease violation, then being stuck in a contract for satellite TV you can’t even watch. Check your lease terms.

Avoid Lease Violations With Clear-Cut Lease Agreements

Class A Management has a number of properties throughout Texas and the surrounding areas. If you live in one of our properties and have a question about the terms of your lease, contact your apartment manager or login to your tenant account to send a question. If you’re looking for a new apartment rental, check out our apartments for rent in Texas and Oklahoma.