As a landlord, you may have encountered situations where you needed to alter the terms of a lease agreement. Maybe you need to increase the rent, modify the payment schedule, or add new clauses to the lease. Whatever the reason may be, it’s essential to know the legal process for making changes to a lease…
When it comes to pets, landlords have the right to create their own policies—but what if a tenant asks you to make an exception for their service animal? What are your obligations? To avoid potential discrimination claims, landlords and property owners need to familiarize themselves with federal, state, and local laws regarding service animals. By…
When it comes to renting a property, tenant screening is a crucial step for helping landlords find reliable and responsible tenants. However, not all tenants are created equal—and some may not be a good fit for your property. That’s why it’s important to watch out for red flags during the tenant screening process. By identifying…
If you’re a landlord in California, you’ll find that the Golden State tends to handle tenant screening a little differently compared to the rest of the nation. To help you stay compliant with the law—and make the most informed rental decisions—here are some of the most important things you should know about screening tenants in…
When searching for a new tenant, it’s always advisable to check an applicant’s rental history and talk with their previous landlords to find out what they were like as a tenant. If you’re a first-time landlord, however, this step may seem a bit daunting. How can you verify the applicant’s rental history? To help you,…
In an ideal world, every one of your tenants would follow the stipulations of your lease to the letter. However, it’s likely that at some point, you’ll have a tenant who violates the terms of your lease. Whether your tenant has repeated noise complaints or is late on the rent, these situations can be difficult…
As pandemic-related rent relief has started to run out, eviction filings have been on the rise across the country—in fact, they’re above their historical averages in half of the 1,059 counties tracked by Legal Services Corp, a federally-funded legal aid group. In combination with inflation, industry experts, housing advocates, and government officials warn the problem… Read more »What Are the Laws Regarding Service Animals and Tenants?
What are Some Red Flags in Tenant Screening?
How Do I Screen Tenants in California?
What is Rental Verification?
How to Handle a Tenant Lease Violation
Eviction Rates Continue to Rise as Rental Assistance Funds Run Out
What to Do When the Rent is Late
As a landlord, you probably rely on getting your monthly rent payments on time in order to make ends meet. But what should you do if your rent collection day has come and gone, and you still haven’t been paid? This is a scenario that worries new landlords and industry veterans alike, and it can… Read more »
Should Landlords Ban Guns at Their Rental Properties?
With the rise of gun violence in schools and public places, should landlords consider banning guns at their rentals, too? This is a question that doesn’t have an easy answer. In some cases, it’s a matter of what the state law says and in others, it’s a matter of personal preference. Before making a decision… Read more »
Does Rental History Show Up On a Credit Report?
Credit reports offer invaluable information to base your rental decisions on credit scores, tradelines, income-to-debt ratio, and much more. One thing you won’t find on a credit report, however, is an applicant’s rental history. Since landlords and property managers aren’t creditors, they don’t automatically report tenants’ payment history to the consumer credit reporting bureaus. What’s… Read more »