Tenant Verification Services provides landlords and property managers with a variety of screening options. Select a market to sign up or learn more.
The final recommendations from British Columbia's Rental Housing Task Force are complete, and the provincial government now must mull what changes to make to the Residential Tenancy Act. While the list of recommendations is long -- 23 separate points -- it is short on...
Despite a landlord's best efforts, a tenancy can take a bad turn and wind up in dispute resolution. Actions like evictions and claims for unpaid rent are stressful, time-consuming, and costly for landlords. Procedural delays can take months, and even then, there is no...
When qualifying rental applicants, it's important to look for the warning signs of tenants who are not telling the truth about their qualifications. Here are some common red flags: The applicant describes tragic circumstances, and then uses the sob story to ask for...
For rental properties to be profitable, landlords need to see cash flow. And that means having tenants who pay rent on time, every time. Train your tenants to pay on time by incorporating these property management strategies that encourage good payment habits: Report...
As the year wraps up, it's time to think ahead to 2019. Here are some property management strategies that will help make 2019 a prosperous new year: Rent Control One of the more surprising twists that occurred this year was the defeat of a statewide rent control...
A landlord in Martinsburg, West Virginia has been arrested and charged with a violation of that city's nuisance rental law after her tenant was accused of drug activity. According to Martinsburg police, at least 35 rental properties have been taken out of service over...
Seattle is facing yet another challenge to its controversial rental regulations. This time, it's tenants who are complaining. They argue that the city's random property inspection rules violate their privacy. Their landlords agree. The lawsuit, which is poised to...
A landmark study recently conducted on behalf of credit reporting giant TransUnion revealed a disturbing statistic: more than 80% of property managers surveyed have been victims of tenant fraud. Many experienced fraud multiple times over the past two years. Equally...
A landlord in British Columbia is living with the fallout from tenants who trashed his rental property. According to a news report, RCMP and bylaw enforcement officers stood guard as the recently-evicted tenants picked through heaps of trash to claim their belongings....
If you've ever had a tenant pay late, then you know how frustrating it is to sit and wait for that cheque to arrive. Chasing down rent payments is a colossal waste of a landlord's time, yet many landlords experience this problem at least once. While rent payments are...
The overall vacancy rate for rental apartments in Canada dropped to 2.4% in 2018, according to the Rental Market Report just released by CMHC. The major factors contributing to the tightening rental market include immigration, younger workers, and older renters,...
A newly-released study finds that over 80% of property management companies surveyed have experienced tenant fraud -- as many as 20 times -- in the past two years. That staggering statistic is a key finding in the study conducted by Forrester Consulting on behalf of...
A powerhouse of well-funded community activists is promoting the "Clean Slate" initiative, a movement aimed at helping individuals charged with crimes rehabilitate by clearing their criminal history. In August, federal lawmakers introduced the Clean Slate Act of 2018....
A slew of prosecutions against landlords last month highlights the need to review policies regarding reasonable accommodation of tenants with disabilities. In the most recent case, the owners and managers of an apartment complex in Las Vegas have agreed to pay $6,000...
California's contentious Proposition 10, a measure designed to expand rent control across the state, was dealt a resounding defeat when more than 60% of voters rejected it. The election results provide a reality check for other local governments across the country...
There is a lot to know about screening tenants - and a lot at stake. Choosing good tenants is the cornerstone of a profitable rental business. These tried-and-true tenant screening strategies always work when it comes to finding the right tenants and preventing costly...
Granted, it's difficult to get excited about move-in and move-out condition reports. But it might help to consider that these smart little spreadsheets are what allow you to collect for any damage that a tenant might cause. In fact, a landlord can use condition...
Every rental property is going to undergo some level of wear and tear. It's inevitable. But that doesn't mean landlords can't take steps to prolong the life -- and value -- of each rental unit: 1. Check rental history. When screening tenants, watch for a pattern of...
A recent opinion piece in HuffPost Canada suggests adding tenants' rights to the curriculum for high school students. That's an excellent idea, but it doesn't go far enough. According to the article, Ontario currently is running a pilot program in the secondary...
Have an ironclad lease? A lease agreement can be tricky. If it's too generic, it won't protect the landlord. If it's too one-sided, it may not be enforceable. And if it's too confusing, tenants won't understand what is expected of them. Whether you're a first-time...
