The roof is your rental property’s first line of defense against the elements, but it’s also arguably one of the most vulnerable parts of the building – and one of the costliest to replace. However, just like bringing your vehicle to the mechanic regularly for maintenance will lower your overall repair costs, roof maintenance can… Read more »
Posts Categorized: Rentals
Is My Rental Property Considered a Business?
Whether you’re the landlord of a single-family home or you own a multi-unit apartment building, it’s important to understand whether your rental is considered an investment or a business because the distinction can have important tax consequences. If you’re considered a business owner, you’ll receive valuable tax deductions that don’t apply to investors. With tax… Read more »
Tips and Best Practices for Renting a Room in Your House
You may not realize it but when you decide to rent out a room in your house, you’re more than just a roommate; you effectively become a landlord. While the rules and regulations regarding roommates can vary based on your location, it’s important to know the details of being a landlord in order to make… Read more »
Streamline Your Rental Tours with the Best Virtual Tour Apps
Virtual tours have grown in popularity over the years; thanks to the development of smartphone capability and apps, property managers and landlords can show off their rental properties to many prospective tenants at the same time. Renters also benefit, as they can search for housing and view the properties they’re interested in without ever leaving… Read more »
What You Need to Know About the Latest Rent Protections
COVID-19 has caused a wide range of government responses concerning renter’s rights – and they’ve varied greatly depending on where a rental property is located. On the most extreme end, you have California, where state legislators proposed a bill that would reduce rent by 25% and ban evictions until 2022. On the opposite end of… Read more »
What You Need Know About Rent Concessions and Lending during COVID-19
April was the first month many tenants were unable to pay their rent due to COVID-19 restrictions. With an estimated 1 in 10 Americans now unemployed, property owners are facing a greater number of rent delinquencies than they’ve seen in recent times. Unfortunately, that trend isn’t likely to change as the federal, state, and local… Read more »
Odd, Bizarre, and Restrictive Rental Rules
One of the toughest things about being a tenant is that they must abide by other’s rules – or they’ll need to find a new place to live. Most of the time, rental rules are reasonable and easy to follow. Some landlords and property managers, however, take things too far with extremely restrictive or nonsensical… Read more »
Tips for Creating a Peaceful Rental Community
As a property manager, your success relies on the ability to manage several properties at once. Unfortunately, the more properties you manage, the more likely you’ll experience conflicts among tenants, property owners, or neighbors. Communication skills play a crucial role in resolving disputes and keeping the communities you manage peaceful. You need to be able… 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 »
Allowing Pets and Service Animals in Your Rental
Every now and again, we come across the question of whether or not it’s advisable to allow pets in your rental units. The reality of this question is that there’s no “right” answer – there are reasons to allow pets, and reasons not to allow them. It’s entirely up to the landlord or property manager… Read more »