6.Repairs and maintenance.Your best defense against rent-withholding hassles and other problems(especially over security deposits)is to clearly set out your and the tenant's responsibilities for repair and maintenance in your lease or rental agreement,including:
-the tenant's responsibility to keep the rental premises clean and sanitary and to pay for any damage caused by his or her abuse or neglect
-a requirement that the tenant alert you to defective or dangerous conditions in the rental property,with specific details on your procedures for handling complaint and repair requests,and
-restrictions on tenant repairs and alterations,such as adding a built in dishwasher,installing a burglar alarm system or painting walls without your permission.