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 »
Posts Categorized: Landlords
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 »
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 »
Landlord Responsibility for Tenant Utility Bills
It’s not uncommon for landlords to have to deal with nonpaying tenants at one point or another, but another thing that some may not consider is having a tenant who pays rent but skips out on utility payments, either for their final month in the property or for even longer. When utility bills have been… Read more »