Tenant Verification Services provides landlords and property managers with a variety of screening options. Select a market to sign up or learn more.
After choosing the right rental applicant and running a tenant background check, the next step for landlords is to present the new tenant with an ironclad lease agreement. That's why it is important to understand what it is that makes a strong lease. A lease agreement...
Screening tenants is critical to maintaining profit margins because just one mistake means lost income. There's a lot that goes into developing a solid tenant screening policy that will cover all the bases, but it's important to build on the basics: 1. You Need a...
Did you know that your property management style can determine whether you find the right tenants? Your reputation as a landlord has more to do with tenant screening than you might realize. Some landlords get into the business by accident, or have managed one property...
The City Council in Berkeley, California is considering a measure that, if passed, would mean landlords there could not maintain a "no-pets" policy. Referring to the complicated rules regarding companion animals, lawmakers appear to be arguing that if you can't beat...
A landlord recently shared a story, explaining that after inheriting a home, the family allowed friends to move into the property. There was no written lease agreement. There was no rent paid. Now, the family is in court trying to boot the "tenants" after discovering...
Properly screening tenants goes a long way towards keeping your rental property profitable, but your work as a landlord doesn't stop there. Your property management style can determine whether you find good tenants, or scare them away. If you want to increase the odds...
Airbnb.com is a website that allows vacationers to find rooms in private homes in major cities around the world. So far, the business model has been a raging success. But it hasn't come without significant controversy. Airbnb has been targeted by local government...
Lawmakers in a small enclave in upstate New York reportedly are considering a bylaw that will force landlords there to do a better job screening tenants. The move comes after local residents organized a petition drive and presented it at a town meeting. While the...
A landlord in Cleveland was trying to give a single mom a break. Instead, the new tenant invited in 19 other people, trashed the property, and then left the water running when she vacated. The case highlights not only how important it is to make tenant screening...
Q: I would like to see an article on the landlord allowing tenants to lease with pets. How should that be incorporated with the lease agreements? Does the number of pets play a pivotal roll in the lease amount? - TVS Landlord If you want to attract the largest of pool...
The number of renters has grown dramatically in some of the most populous -- and disaster prone -- U.S. cities, yet few renters actually purchase insurance, according to the Insurance Information Institute. In fact, only 37 percent of renters have renters insurance...
There's a lot of math involved in rental property management, especially when it comes to screening tenants. Hopefully, math was one of your best subjects, but if it is wasn't, no need to worry. This math is less about running calculations and more about verifying...
British Columbia Allowable Rent Increase for 2015 British Columbia has set the allowable rent increase for 2015 at 2.5 per cent. The annual allowable rent increase for conventional residential tenancies is determined by the formula in the Residential Tenancy...
A young person in Ontario who was denied housing based on her age has recovered an award of $10,000 from a prospective landlord. In addition, the landlord was ordered to develop a human rights policy and train staff. The Human Rights Tribunal of Ontario found that the...
A Vancouver tenant who was evicted over his use of marijuana in a rental unit lost his bid in the B.C. Human Rights Tribunal. The tenant had claimed that the marijuana was permitted for a medical condition, and that the landlord discriminated against him because of...
If your goal is to keep your rental properties profitable, both in the short term and the long run, there are some mistakes you can't afford to make: 1. Housing Discrimination Landlords who don't learn to navigate fair housing laws risk serious income loss. Just this...
Every step of the rental application process should be viewed as an opportunity to screen your next tenant. Play the role of detective, and you will discover important clues that can save you thousands in lost profits. Prior landlord references are a good example....
The value of a lease agreement is stated right on its face. But did you know that's not what you're likely to get if a tenant walks out on the lease? Although there is a lump sum owed for the agreed-upon term of the lease, that figure is misleading for landlords who...
A tenant writes: I recently paid a $35.00 application fee for a rental property. I called the realty company the following day and was told the person that ran the tenant screening reports was out until after lunch. I asked if they would call after the report was...
Every step of the rental application process can double up as an opportunity to screen your tenants. Prior landlord references are a good example. Rather than approaching the task as routine, see if you can generate a discussion that will reveal if your new applicant...
