This year, the House of Representatives passed the Violence Against Women Reauthorization Act of 2019, which came with some important changes for tenants and landlords. Over the past 25 years or so, thousands of towns and cities over the country have enacted local ordinances that penalize both tenants and landlords for repeated police or emergency… Read more »
An Overview of State-Required Landlord Disclosures
Tenants have many rights under federal and state laws, including a right to privacy, a livable residence, how their security deposit can be used, and a right to non-discriminatory treatment. Many states go even further than this, requiring landlords to inform their tenants in writing – often before they even move in – of specific… Read more »
Proper Protocol for Security Deposits and Unpaid Rent
No landlord ever wants to have to deal with a bad tenant who fails to pay their rent, but the chances of it happening go up the longer you manage properties and the more tenants you have. Many landlords struggle with what do in this situation. Some may consider using the tenant’s security deposit to… Read more »
Top 10 Time-Saving Property Management Tips
We’re all aware that time is money, especially for a busy property manager! Being able to effectively implement time-saving strategies into your management techniques will not only save you time (and therefore money) and help you be more productive but can also help you if you decide to scale up your property management business. 1…. Read more »
Stay Informed on Proposed Changes to Consumer Information Use
Questions over consumer privacy, particularly in regard to credit reporting agencies like Experian, have become a hotly debated topic on a state and federal level. In February, several Senate hearings addressed the need for improved disclosure of the categories of data collected and shared, as well as a need for opt-out processes. As of now,… Read more »
Lease Writing 101
A lease is an essential document that’s often not given the amount of attention it needs. Many landlords rely on sample leases they find online instead of taking the time to write one themselves; while this can save time and online leases can make excellent templates, it’s important to be able to write your own… Read more »
Summer Pest Prevention
Summertime brings warm sunny days, barbecues, and… bugs. Not only are insects an annoying pest, but they can also make your tenants uncomfortable, ill, or cause serious damage to your property. When it comes to insect infestations, the best solution is always prevention. We recommend establishing a systematic quarterly pest prevention program will ensure you’re… Read more »
Hard Lessons Learned from Verbal Agreements and a Very Large Dog
Many landlords believe they have all their bases covered with tenants, only to discover something crucial they overlooked – and they often learn about it the hard way. Thankfully, when they share their stories, it allows others to learn from their mistakes! One landlord recently posted the hard lesson they learned revolving around a tenant… Read more »
Injury Liability 101: Who’s Liable For Slips, Trips, Falls or Fires?
When someone owns their home and injure themselves there’s little question about liability, but what if it happens to a tenant? Let’s say one of your tenants is planning a big barbecue and decides they want more lighting outside. As they’re climbing their ladder to hang the lights, they lose their footing and slip off,… Read more »
4 Steps for Effective Rental Applications to Find Great Tenants
There are many reasons to use rental applications to screen tenants before signing a lease. They’ll give you a more complete picture of your applicants, notify you of any problematic history, and help you choose renters who can pay regularly and on time. However, in order to get the most out of your tenant screening… Read more »