If you are wondering if there is anything you can do with the junk cars slowly disintegrating on your rental property, you are not alone. Many landlords want to know how to deal with a tenant’s junk cars, inconveniently parked in the most conspicuous spots of the property. As a property owner, you want to be able to maintain a well-organized rental home to ensure safety and maintain curb appeal, but junk cars have a negative impact on your property’s value. Taking care of this issue right away will help protect your assets. Here are steps you might want to consider:
Make Sure Your Policies are Present and Implemented
If you have a policy regarding the use of vehicles, refer to it often, and make sure your tenants are informed and have a hard copy of the policy. when the time comes. Clearly outlining and documenting your policies will also protect you from liability in case a tenant complains.
Make Parking Permits a Requirement
It may be beneficial to require your tenants to register their vehicles with you so you can issue them a parking permit and stickers. This will help you to control the number of vehicles that are parked on your rental property. Not only will this compel tenants to be forthcoming about how many vehicles they have, but they will also be easier to trace and monitor. On top of it all, it will be easier for you or your property management company to keep track of unauthorized vehicles.
Impose a Towing Policy
One of the most effective ways to manage junk cars is to have them towed under a formal policy. With this policy in place, you can ensure that any non-functioning car is taken care of properly. All tenants must be informed of this policy and should have a copy in written form which they must acknowledge having received. If any junk cars are present, you can take a picture of the vehicle with the date as proof of their presence on your property. You will need this in case the vehicle is towed, and the owner complains. Check your local towing laws and make sure they are followed.
In some cases, a junk car may still have an active tag but has already been largely abandoned. This should be obvious by the appearance and condition of the car: flat tires, broken windows or mirrors, leaves on top and around the vehicle, missing parts, etc. Since the car is obviously a junk vehicle, you could impose your right to have it towed without waiting for the tag to expire. However, do so only if you have already informed the owner in advance.
Require All Tenants to Register Their Vehicles
Junk cars are non-functional vehicles, which means they can no longer be insured and registered. When you check the cars parked within your rental property, you can identify which units have expired stickers. You can then determine the owner of the vehicle and send them a notification that the vehicle will be towed after a period of time, based on what is written in your policy.
Having a tenant’s junk cars all over your rental property can be frustrating but can also be a sign of a larger issue. Make sure your tenant understands the consequences of their actions and is sufficiently warned before you make any major changes. Here at Specialized Property Management Orlando, we know how to deal with situations like these in a legal and respectful manner. For more information or to get a quote, call us at 407-698-3322 or contact us online.
