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 »
Lead-Based Paint Disclosures: What You Need to Know
Landlords are responsible for maintaining more than just the habitability of their properties; they’re also responsible for disclosures on anything that can present a health or safety hazard. One such disclosure is lead-based paint; landlords are legally required to disclose the presence or potential presence of lead-based on their property to inform their tenants of… Read more »
2019 Revisions to VAWA: What You Need to Know
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 »