LANDLORDS SHOULD REGULATE THESE POINTS IN EVERY RENTAL AGREEMENT

 

The conditions used in the contract form should, if possible, not be modified. Even "homemade" formulations, especially for cosmetic repairs, are often ineffective. Many landlords and rental managers shoot expensive "own goals" in this way.

Rental property and rental period

A precise description of the property to be rented with all ancillary rooms and areas should be made in the lease. But the rental period or exclusion from dismissal should, of course, also be agreed upon.

Example formulation

The office space in the building, 1st floor on the right, is marked in color, next to basement room No. 3, in, and parking spaces No. 5 to 8 in the three marked in color, rented until October 31, 2019.

Rent amount and due date

Furthermore, one of the most important points is that as a landlord, you agree to an agreement on the amount of rent, when it is due, and, if necessary, rent increases. If the due date is not regulated, the tenant owes it up to the end of the 3rd working day of each month in advance.

Please note: Based on the law on the "rent brake," new rental contracts are limited in many places by legal ordinances. If necessary, the rent for an apartment may not be more than 10% above the local comparative rent. Exceptionally, this does not apply for apartments that are used and rented for the first time after October 1, 2014; for apartments that are rented again for the first time after extensive modernization; if the previous tenant has already owed a rent that was more than 10% above the local comparative rent.

Operating costs

It is particularly important to have an agreement to pay the operating costs. If this point were not regulated, these costs would be included in the basic rent. The law stipulates that landlords have to pay the operating costs. Something else only applies if this obligation is transferred to the tenant utilizing an agreement.

According to the Operating Costs Ordinance, the following costs can be apportioned as operating costs:

• Ongoing public charges on the property
• Water supply costs
• Drainage costs
• Heating costs
• Hot water supply costs
• Cost of associated heating and hot water supply systems
• Cost of operating the passenger or goods lift
• Street cleaning and garbage disposal costs
• Building cleaning and vermin control costs
• Garden maintenance costs
• Cost of lighting
• Chimney cleaning costs
• Property and liability insurance costs
• Costs for the caretaker

Costs of operating the community antenna system or operating the private distribution system connected to a broadband cable network

Cost of operating laundry facilities

Other operating costs: costs for porter service, garbage chutes, fire extinguishers, lightning rods, cleaning gutters, costs for gutter heating, maintenance of drain pipes and maintenance holes, maintenance of electrical systems and ventilation systems, operating costs for community facilities such as swimming pools and hobby rooms.

Exception: The "other operating costs" must be specified by name in the rental agreement.

Advantage: If landlords work themselves, they can charge the tenant for their work, including the cost of materials, namely based on the costs incurred in a luxury apartments in Lahore. In practice, this mainly applies to garden maintenance, winter services and house cleaning.

Cosmetic repairs

Landlords should also consider the same when taking on cosmetic repairs. Here, too, the law stipulates that landlords must undertake all cosmetic repairs, particularly painting and wallpapering the walls and ceilings, even during the tenancy. This obligation can only be transferred to tenants through an agreement.