How often do your new tenants ask if they can have the keys a few days before the lease begins? Whenever you do, make sure you have the tenant complete and sign the Early Occupancy Agreement Lease Addendum.
Many landlords are only too happy to start off on a good note with their new tenants and gladly grant them early possession.
But wait! Are you getting paid for those days? Many landlords don't even think about what those free days are worth. (If you prorate the monthly rent by dividing the rent by 30 days, you'll get the daily amount per day) - On the other hand, the tenants may be doing you a favor by taking the property "a few days early" by getting the utilities into their name instead of yours. This is why you need the early occupancy agreement lease addendum.
More importantly, many landlords don't even realize the ramifications liability-wise when the they allow tenants to pre-occupy the rental before the lease begins.
Think about it.
What rights do tenants have when they occupy your rental, with the key you gave them, before the lease begins? They have all the legal tenant rights they can possibly have, without even being bound by the rules in the lease that hasn't even started yet. Do you think tenants might use this time to try to re-negotiate the lease or demand certain things be done before the lease term starts? You bet! They think they've got you over a barrel - and they may!
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