Discovering Mexico Country Guide 2021

Maintaining a Rental Property The landlord is solely responsible for structural damages. The tenant is responsible for normal wear and tear, and everyday repairs. Tenants are responsible for faucets, light bulbs, and toilets. Utilities The relocating employee usually arranges telephone, cable, and internet connections, contacting several providers that offer different plans to find the plan best suited to their needs. A private company distributes gas, and the building administration charges the tenants. Houses normally have a private contract with gas companies and receive the service depending on their consumption. All bills can be paid online, at banks, or even at supermarkets or any convenience store (Oxxo, Seven Eleven, Super K, etc.). Water and electricity bills always stay under the landlord’s name. The bills are paid every 30 or 60 days depending on the state. These companies are government owned, and for this reason there is a lot of bureaucracy that can create frustration when dealing with inaccurate invoices or meter readings.

Helpful Hint: Relocating employees should maintain records throughout their stay in Mexico showing proof of payment of all services, particularly water and electricity.

Departure Returning a Property

A typical departure begins with lease termination and notice to the landlord of your intention to vacate, followed by a pre move-out walkthrough of the rental property to assess possible damages/items to need to be fixed or cleaned. When you return the property to the landlord, the property must be in its original condition, minus normal wear and tear. Cleaning, repainting if you changed wall color, and repair of any damaged items during this period will be your responsibility. Avoid hammering nails or screws into wall tiles or their junctions, Formica cabinets, wooden doors or walls, or any surface that can’t be easily repaired because this is one of the most important details when returning a property. The documents that would guide you on what needs to be done before returning the keys are the lease contract and the inventory list made at the beginning of the lease period.

© 2021 Dwellworks

Page 26

Discovering Mexico