Every landlord understands the importance of collecting a security deposit to protect their investment property. In many cases, tenants are respectful of the property, so you won’t have to worry about withholding the deposits. However, what happens when you have a tenant who has caused damage to the property? How do you handle withholding some… Read more »
Can Landlords Prohibit Guns in Their Lease Agreement?
Gun ownership has become a particularly heated topic over the past decade, which prompts the question for many landlords: can you add a clause into your lease that restricts or prohibits firearms? Unfortunately, the answer isn’t clear-cut. In some circumstances, the answer may be dependent on what your state law says. In other situations, it… Read more »
How to Legally Remove a Bad Tenant Without an Eviction
As a landlord, few situations are as unpleasant as dealing with an unreliable tenant. Bad tenants may consistently pay their rent late (or not at all), cause trouble with your other tenants, or repeatedly break the rules outlined in the lease. Unfortunately, once they’ve signed the lease, there’s not much you can do legally to… Read more »
It’s Official: California Rent Control Bill Signed into Law
Rent control is here to stay in California – at least until 2030. On October 8, 2019, California Governor Gavin Newsom signed the Assembly Bill 1482, which caps annual rent increases at 5% and imposes rules on just cause eviction. The legislation is meant to address the rising cost of housing and increasing homelessness affecting… Read more »
Tips to Improve Communications Between Property Managers and Owners
Effective communication is an essential skill for property managers to have. You communicate daily with tenants, service vendors, and of course, property owners. While all communication is vital, the importance of clear communication with owners can’t be overstated. You should have a thorough understanding of the owners’ needs, and the owners should feel secure knowing… Read more »
How to Be a Successful Long-Distance Landlord
It makes sense to many landlords to invest in properties near their own homes, but it’s certainly not a requirement. Whether you’ve moved away from the area, or you found a great investment opportunity out of state, you can still be very successful as a long-distance landlord. The key is to outsource tasks and responsibilities…. Read more »
23 Essential Questions to Ask Potential Tenants
One of the most critical decisions you’ll make as a landlord is selecting a tenant from your list of applicants. Bad tenants can be costly. They may cause damage to your property, consistently pay their rent late (or not at all) or even move out before the lease is up. On the other hand, a… Read more »
How to Prevent Lawsuits
Owning rental properties can be extremely lucrative, but it’s not entirely without risk. Tenants can and do, bring lawsuits against their landlords. Many times, these lawsuits can be avoided by following some property management best practices. Here are a few tips on how to avoid some of the most common situations that cause tenants to… Read more »
How to Handle a Former Tenant’s Mail with No Forwarding Address
At some point, most landlords will probably encounter a situation where one of their rental properties still receives mail for a former tenant. It can be frustrating, particularly when the previous tenant didn’t provide a forwarding address. So, how can you make sure the mail gets to the right person – and stop it from… Read more »
Investment Opportunities Arise with the Build-to-Rent Market Explosion
A decade ago, the foreclosure crisis shook the housing market. Investors quickly flooded in, buying millions of distressed homes with the intention of turning them into lucrative rental properties. They transformed what had been a small, family-owned and operated market into an official large-scale formally managed asset class. And it shows no sign of slowing…. Read more »