In September, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) issued a temporary nationwide eviction moratorium on most evictions for nonpayment of rent to curb the spread of COVID-19. The CDC stated that the moratorium, which is set to end December 31, 2020, would help reduce the spread by allowing people to follow stay-at-home orders… Read more »
An Overview of California’s State-Wide Rent Control
The housing crisis isn’t a new development in California; since about 1970, the state has experienced an increasing housing shortage, and by 2018, California ranked 49th in the nation in housing units per capita. Rising rents, stagnant wages, and overall high cost of living have all been named as factors in the increase in homelessness… Read more »
4 Types of Illegal Evictions You Should Know About
Although some states still have restrictions on evictions due to COVID-19, many of them have now begun the process of hearing eviction cases again. As a landlord or property manager, you likely know your local eviction laws fairly well. However, there’s been a growing movement over the past couple of years to amend the normal… Read more »
Could Eviction Record Bans Extend Beyond New York State?
In 2019, New York state passed a law that effectively banned the use of eviction reports for screening rental applicants. The law, which is part of The Housing Stability and Tenant Protection Act of 2019, penalizes rental property owners who deny applicants on the basis of either a pending or prior eviction litigation. The law… Read more »
An Overview of State Rent Control Laws
With housing shortages, rising rent prices, unemployment due to COVID-19, and other issues, rent control has become a hot topic this election year. As a refresher, rent control (also called rent stabilization) caps a tenant’s rent at a specific dollar amount or limits the percentage the rent can be increased by after the tenant’s lease… Read more »
What to Do When Your Tenant Files for Bankruptcy
Eviction is one of the worst-case scenarios for many landlords. It can be a long, taxing process that slowly eats away at your time and money – not to mention the impact it has on an emotional or mental health level. Needless to say, eviction is a situation that most landlords want to avoid whenever… Read more »
10 Tips for Improving Your Relationship with Your Tenants
Do you have a good relationship with your tenants? Or do you find yourself keeping them at a distance as much as possible? Many landlords underestimate the importance of their relationship with their tenants, not realizing that improving relations can make their job easier and bring greater success. While the tenant/landlord relationship is a professional… Read more »
Which Credit Scoring Model Should You Use for Tenant Screening?
Credit scores are one of the best ways for rental housing professionals to gauge an applicant’s financial competency and reliability. As you probably know, the closer the score is to 850, the easier it is to secure loans, lock in lower interest rates, and find housing. That’s all from a consumer standpoint, but what about… Read more »
Tips and Best Practices for Renting a Room in Your House
You may not realize it but when you decide to rent out a room in your house, you’re more than just a roommate; you effectively become a landlord. While the rules and regulations regarding roommates can vary based on your location, it’s important to know the details of being a landlord in order to make… Read more »
Rent Concessions During COVID-19: A Guide for Landlords and Tenants
Like most of the country, California has seen significant economic impact due to COVID-19. The executive orders from Governor Newsom have required many businesses to close or reduce their operations. Many citizens are still out of work; as of July 2020, the state unemployment rate was 13.3% – down from 16.4% in April. In addition,… Read more »