Working in real estate brings about many unique challenges that can be difficult to resolve without previous experience. Housing laws frequently change, and tax codes can be intricate and difficult to navigate. One problem that most landlords won’t need to deal with is having a tenant without a lease or rental agreement. However, under special… Read more »
How to Prepare Your Property for a New Tenant
If you have an upcoming move-out, it can feel overwhelming to get the property ready for a new tenant. Thankfully, with a little organization, it doesn’t have to be a lengthy process. If you make a list, schedule each task, and start early, many of the steps can be taken care of before your current… Read more »
How to Handle a Tenant Who Won’t Leave After Eviction
Eviction can be hard on everyone involved – tenant and landlord alike. Not only is there a lot of paperwork involved, but the process can be long and draining. To make matters worse, there are occasions when landlords or property managers are faced with a tenant who won’t leave. This can be extremely frustrating –… Read more »
What You Need to Know About Squatter’s Rights
Squatter’s rights have become a popular topic over the past few years, especially with the founding of organized rehousing groups like Take Back the Land. Squatters are defined as any person who chooses to live in a property or piece of land that they don’t have a legal right to occupy. Not surprisingly, many property… Read more »
New Laws Every California Landlord or Property Managers Need to Know
California legislators have been busy during the first half of 2019! There have been a number of new bills, acts, and ordinances that have either been passed or are currently pending, many of which have implications for landlords and property managers. Even if you don’t have rental properties in California, it’s important to keep updated… Read more »
Catch Up on the Latest HUD Guidelines for Screening Tenants
As a landlord, screening is one of the most important things you can do to reduce the chances of ending up with a problematic tenant. Tenant screening is relatively straightforward, however, it’s essential to make sure that you’re staying compliant with the guidelines laid out by the Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) when… Read more »
Rising Housing Costs: How Does This Affect Landlords?
Whether you’re an independent landlord or a property manager, it’s essential to stay on top of the current housing market trends. Whether you’re planning to acquire a new property, wish to sell a property, or are doing competitive research on similar units in the area, having a handle on the market will allow you to… Read more »
Changes to How Landlords Can Access Criminal Records
Near the end of May, Cook County in Illinois approved a new change to how and when landlords are allowed to access criminal records while running tenant screening. While landlords are still allowed to inquire about a potential tenant’s criminal history, they are only able to do it as a second step to the screening… Read more »
How Long Does a Landlord Have to Sue a Tenant for Property Damage?
Many landlords have a checklist they go through when they examine a property for damages after a tenant moves out, allowing them to discover any damage to the property and withhold the cost of repairs from the security deposit. Sometimes, however, the damage isn’t discovered for weeks or even months afterward, and the security deposit… Read more »
Protect Yourself from Fraud with Tenant Screening
Sadly, fraud is everywhere, including property rentals. Rental fraud occurs when tenants move in with no intention of paying rent, eventually forcing the landlord to evict them. The entire process can take up to three months or more; in the meantime, the landlord has lost out on months’ worth of rent. These deadbeat tenants often… Read more »