Activity 5: Caring for Your Living Space

(Objective 3: Gain an increased appreciation of the financial and personal value of caring for rental living spaces.)

OPTIONAL:

Depending on your participants, consider if information on caring for the rental living space is appropriate. If a rental unit is not kept reasonably cleaned and cared for, the tenant may lose some or all of their security deposit and have addition costs when moving out. If this activity is included, emphasize making the care of the rental unit easier and more effective. Note that there is a financial return associated with caring for the rental unit when the tenant’s security deposit is returned.

Suggested Introduction: Many landlords are concerned that tenants do not keep rental units clean. This is a problem for landlords because a poorly cleaned unit can cause pest problems and increased wear on the unit. Likewise, this can be a problem for tenants. If tenants don’t keep their units clean, tenants may see deductions from their security deposit and cleaning and/or repair charges when moving out.

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Ask participants to list problems that can result from not caring for the rental unit living space.

Provide Handout 7: If You Don’t Care for Your Living Space. Review the potential problems associated with a poorly maintained home. Suggest that they may be able to use some of these reasons to motivate family members or other household members to help with the care of the rental unit.

OPTIONAL: Provide Handout 8: Cleaning Tips for Renters—Cleaning Institute Share that keeping the rental unit clean will not only please the landlord, it will also make it healthier and save money in the long run for tenants. Having a plan for how one will care for the rental living space will aid in keeping the rental unit clean in a timelier manner, leaving time for other activities.

On large sticky notes, list each of the tasks for care found on Handout 8: Cleaning Tips for Renters—Cleaning Institute. Evenly distribute these sticky notes among participants. Instruct them to post each note under signs you have tacked up, designating daily, weekly, and monthly/as needed tasks.

When posting is complete, review where items have been posted. Provide Handout 9: Your Plan for Care for your Living Space and instruct participants to complete their own cleaning plan.

OPTIONAL: Provide and discuss Handout 10: Bed Bug/Roach Control and Lead Paint Hazards

Share that prevention is the key to bed bug and roach control. This handout goes into detail on these hard to control insects. Use the Instructor Materials: Photos of Bed Bug and an infestation for visual identification. Prevention is also the key to roach control. If you have the capability to play an audio file, play the excerpt from Don’t Let the Bed Bugs Bite, interview with P.J. Liecsh, Extension entomologist specialist, found on the Rent Smart website, Module D, activity 5. Following the tips related to roach control will make rental units less hospitable to roaches. Roach poisons should always be used with great care. Follow labels carefully and use only when other controls have proven ineffective.

Discuss the serious health risks associated with lead poisoning and what tenants can do to avoid lead poisoning. Lead poisoning is one of the most common child health problems. Lead paint is common in housing built before 1978. Landlords must alert new tenants to potential lead paint hazards and give them information about lead poisoning and its prevention.