What, if any are your stipulations on political signs/banners displayed for tenants? Driving by, I noticed my Class C- tenants (out of 5 doors I now have 2 B class, 1 B- class, and 2 C- class tenants) have a local political sign out that I don't agree with, although that is beside the point.

Background:

This young group of BF/GF and roommate in my upper 3/1 pay their rent on time quite consistently but only because I laid the law down in the beginning. They tend to take matters into their own hands as they've already changed the locks b/c the "old one didn't work" instead of reporting it. This is a C to C- area.

We've had to crack down on them about the rules several times and they tow the line afterwards. The mother of the GF runs a very large non-profit do gooder charity house and is practically the town supervisor at this point. She was the one that gave away her property to us where she was running an illegal rooming house that caught fire and would have had to pay the town $$$$ to tear it down.

Advice?

I live in a small town far from the big towns so we have not had real trouble yet. (Too far away and most here are hunters). Yet still, political signs are up.

I don't say a word about it BECAUSE it allows me to make notes of the addresses and look up the names of the owners, plus car license plates. Visitors plates are also noted. (Elections have consequences). If the place is a rental, it's noted as well and if a future tenant provides the address, I then likely know their mindset (broadcasting your values and choices has consequences). The occupants showing what and who they are and what they think often turn out to do the things you know they do. (I look at it like the 2 minute inspection (you can tell a lot by looking).

Knowing the enemy is important. Knowing where to find them is an advantage. 99 times out of a hundred these are the ones who cause trouble, trash houses, deal drugs and other problems).

Don't make a fuss over it now - it's almost over.

If you do want to control "potentially controversial/offensive" signage/flags, do it a couple months from now - so you aren't targeting one tenant.

What I wonder is: If they are in the "upper" unit, what do the residents of the lower unit think?

It could be a different situation at a multi vs SFH. At a SFH, displaying one's opinions RESPECTFULLY is basic freedom of speech. This does not mean that vulgar or insulting/threatening signs would be OK, whether SFH or multi.

In a multi - especially an up-down - it may be different because both/all tenants share the front yard where the sign may be placed, and they may not both want the same sign in "their" yard.

Of course, keep in mind that anyone can say anything is offensive or controversial to them at any time - so there's that.

In home visit helps a lot with revealing how my house will look in the future. It also reveals the world view of the prospective tenants. Much of the issue is about tenant stability, and if the prospective tenant actively promotes to burn it all down, I view that as a person likely to quit their job or soon be fired.

DJ, the downstairs have a separate entrance around the corner. This is a property that is on a corner so the upstairs faces "maple" st and the downstairs faces "elm" st.

The new downstairs tenant go up elm street to go to work; probably rarely see the signage.

I realized I didnt have this provision in my lease so I revised it going forward. I will be mowing today and moving the sign right up next do their front step as opposed to the lawn between the sidewalk and the curb.

Richard, I have made note of a particular rental that has activist posters in the front windows. I don't rent to community organizers or tenant activists that favor certain protected classes. They applied to one of my units. DQed. Don't need agitators and tenants filled with hubris.

My daughter and her husband put a couple signs in their yard. Not the same persons I would vote for but meh.

I told my wife that someone was going to trash the sign, and shortly after the main sign ended up getting swiped.

I didn't do it, honest.

I do not place signage in my yard. If someone wants to pay for the space I will discuss.

My lease says no signs. When George Floyd happened, their were riots everywhere. Many homes had rocks thrown through windows.

An attorney I had as a tenant pointed out it was her freedom of speech right. I pointed out that the language in our lease regarding signs was taken word for word from the State of WI lease written by an attorney for the State.

Now, I make it all about safety. People are quite vocal and uppity around here about all sorts of things. Signs start fights. And such an uproar if someone steals a sign. Henny Penny thought the sky was falling!

if your lease doesn't cover the topic and you want to change the standards so it reflects this, your lease should outline how to change the terms of lease.

In PA it is 30 day notice unless outlined differently in the lease. So given that the election is less than 30 days away, I wouldn't focus too much about it.

I have a sfh in an HOA. They allow one political sign of a small size, maybe 2' x 2' square (and no signs in windows, which I find potenially illegal). I just drove by there yesterday, and it was lovely to see so few signs. Everywhere else? There are signs in front of signs, defaced signs, damaged signs, nasty quotes signs...