In fact, on the Harbor there are many very good landlords who are more often the victims than the culprits in disputes.

For the last couple of weeks with the help of Royce Travis, a housing counselor here at Aberdeen Neighborhood Housing Services (ANHS), we’ve written about the unique rights and responsibilities for those who rent or lease their living space.

So, for you landlords, here are a few words about your rights and responsibilities.

In the working world, conventional wisdom says that hiring the right person for the job to begin with makes life a lot easier for everyone. The same principle applies when looking for tenants – so it’s important to screen carefully.

Take the time and energy to adequately screen prospective renters.

Time and again, a hasty agreement with a less-than-desirable renter ends up costing much more time, energy and money in the long run. So, do the work up front!

Royce encourages all landlords to get a credit report, get a criminal background check from the Sheriff’s Department and check references on all the rentals the person has lived in for at least the past five years. (The costs for these reports can be collected, up front, as an application fee.)

When you’re checking references here are some questions you should ask:

• Would you rent to the tenant again?
• Was the rent paid on time?
• Did the tenant follow the rules of their rental agreement?
• Were there any substance abuse issues?
• At any time were the police called because of this tenant’s activities?
• Was the unit kept in a clean and orderly manner?
• Was the full deposit returned?
• How long did they occupy the unit?

Before signing on the dotted line with a new tenant, the landlord should conduct a "walk through" of the property with the prospective tenant, noting any damage large and small. This protects both the landlord and the tenant. The landlord may even want to take video or snapshot pictures of how the unit looks before the tenant moves in.

Any needed repairs should be completed or scheduled.

What is my responsibility?

The Washington State Landlord/Tenant Act clearly defines responsibilities for each of the parties in this relationship. A copy can be obtained from our office at 710 E. Market St. in Aberdeen.

The landlord is responsible for maintaining the unit – be it an apartment or a house, in a manner that doesn’t violate state or local codes or endanger the tenants’ health or safety.

The landlord must maintain structural components such as the roof, floor and chimney and have the residence in a "reasonably" weather-tight condition.

The landlord must supply adequate locks and keys and facilities to supply heat, electricity, and hot and cold water.

In addition, the landlord of an apartment complex must supply a garbage can and arrange for the removal of garbage. He or she must also keep common areas such as lobbies, stairways and halls reasonably clean and free from hazards.

Landlords must control infestations of bugs and animals, except when caused by the tenant. (For instance if your renter moves in with a kitty scratching for fleas, the renter is responsible to take care of the resulting infestation.)

The landlord must also make repairs to the unit so that it remains in the same condition as when the renter moved in, except for normal wear and tear.

The water heater must be set at 120 degrees when a new tenant moves in.

All electrical, plumbing and heating systems and any appliances provided with the rental must also be maintained.

It’s the landlord’s responsibility to provide smoke detectors and ensure they work correctly when a new tenant moves in. However, it is the tenants who must buy replacement batteries, as well as things like light bulbs, after they have moved in.

What about rental agreements, periodic inspections, damage deposits and proper eviction procedures? We’ll review all that next week.