One more thing to add to check-in/check-out list: trash cans. Long-term tenants moved, got SD refund. New tenant moves in, short stay, moving out, already rented, etc. During the shuffle, DH notices the town-provided trash can has disappeared.

Long-term tenant never answered my inquiry about it, so I guess they took it. We did not notice...new tenant didn't know

I do address this in my lease: new can is $125 - but can't back charge her now and honestly couldn't prove it anyway.

Just something to add to the check-in / check-out list!

W,

Ours too have serial numbers so I snap a pic of the number as part of my exterior walk around pics - Partly because close houses get them mixed up.

I look inside because sometimes their trash is very telling like piant cans tnat match the unauthorized paint job inside. Once spotted pieces of my house in the trash can! Shades of Pacific Heights!

I would just consider it cost of doing business.. Unless your rental is far far away from the neighbors.. Its hard to charge tenants if they are actually taken or stolen..

Thanks for the Riminder. Perhaps it should be in the lease as provided much like an appliance and perhaps an uncharged fee is its removed or missing. Might as well make it interesting and get paid to bring in a new one. Perhaps the cost could be part of the move out packet.

New trash cans are special. Something about clean trash cans!

In my lease, it states that trash and recycling barrels must be brought in after garbage pick up. Any barrel left out and damaged are the responsibility of that particular apartment...all are numbered. the recycling barrels are the responsibility of the whole house. Yes, threaten to hit them in the purse and they learn fast!

Funny story....when our town changed over the way the garbage was picked up, they issued every house the necessary garbage and recycling barrels. My tenants complained that they did not have any. Sure enough, the neighbors across the street had them...barrels are numbered and those were MY numbers.

I rolled them across the street onto my property. A few house later, one of my tenant calls me and says that the police was there looking for me as the neighbors told them that I "stole" their barrels. I go to the station and said those were my barrels. They said yes, they were sure that was the case,but I had to "prove it" by going to the town hall the next morning and get a written receipt from them that those indeed were my barrels.