Oakland landlords and tenants enter a shifting rental landscape after the City Council passed its Fair Chance Housing ordinance that establishes the East Bay city as the first in California to bar landlords from conducting criminal background checks. This law, adopted by the City Council on February 4, “bans the box” which stops landlords from… Read more »
Considerations for Renting to Friends or Family
As a landlord or property manager, you’re well-aware of how important it is to screen your tenants. This becomes more complicated when you’re considering renting to family or friends. When vetting a stranger, you can rely on the information from the screening to make your decision. Objectivity is more difficult when it comes to vetting… Read more »
How to Get Chronically Late Tenants to Pay Their Rent on Time
New tenants can be a bit of a gamble. Someone may have an ideal rental history, but there’s no way to account for changes in financial status or other factors that could affect their future ability to pay rent. The only way to know for sure how reliable they’ll be is to give them time… Read more »
How to Prevent Common Misunderstandings with Tenants
Every tenant wants a peaceful home. Likewise, every landlord wants good tenants who will take care of their property. Unfortunately, misunderstandings can undermine the goodwill between tenants and landlords. Misunderstandings can quickly escalate and create uncomfortable situations between both parties, sometimes even damaging the relationship permanently. With that in mind, it’s important to know how… Read more »
How to List Your Property on Craigslist
Part of your success as a landlord depends on finding great tenants who will be reliable and responsible. Finding these tenants isn’t always easy, so you’ll want to advertise in several different places to give you a large pool of applicants to choose from. Craigslist is commonly used by renters looking for a new place… Read more »
Increase Convenience and Consistency with Online Rent Payments
Millennials are now the largest generation in the United States. At 80 million strong, it’s little wonder that they largely dictate digital and social trends. Even the multifamily housing industry isn’t immune to the demands of the millennial generation. Approximately 2/3 of millennials rent, and their desire to conduct many aspects of their lives online… Read more »
New Year, New Rental Housing Laws
As a landlord, it’s crucial to keep up to date with your state and local rental housing laws to prevent legal issues. Each year brings with it new legislation, and 2019 was no exception. Some of the changes were positive, some negative, and some were downright crazy. While the list of new laws is far… Read more »
Tips for Creating a Peaceful Rental Community
As a property manager, your success relies on the ability to manage several properties at once. Unfortunately, the more properties you manage, the more likely you’ll experience conflicts among tenants, property owners, or neighbors. Communication skills play a crucial role in resolving disputes and keeping the communities you manage peaceful. You need to be able… Read more »
Using Security Deposits for Unpaid Rent: What You Need to Know
The last thing any landlord wants to deal with is losing money because of a bad tenant. Despite this, sometimes it can be difficult for landlords to know whether it’s worth pursuing the money they’re owed. One situation that can be tricky to navigate is knowing whether it’s okay to use security deposits for unpaid… Read more »
How to Get Good Tenants to Renew Their Lease
Good tenants make your job as a landlord or property manager easier. They pay their rent on time, they’re respectful of your property, and they let you know when something needs maintenance or repair. Naturally, you want to keep good tenants at your property for as long as possible. Not only do you know you… Read more »