In a move that is being touted as historic, Kansas City, Missouri City Council has passed a much anticipated tenant bill of rights. For landlords, it's not as bad as it could have been. Tenant rights have been in the forefront for some time in this city which is...
Category
Rental Property Management Tips
The 3 Fundamentals of Property Management
Whether you're a first-time landlord or a property-management veteran, success depends upon the commitment to actively manage the rental property. These three fundamentals form the backbone of property management strategy: Tenant Screening Leaves Less to Chance It's...
Landlord Tips: What to Watch Out for This Winter
Reducing liabilities is an important part of maintaining profitable rentals. Winter comes with its own set of risks, so take a moment and consider how you can avoid these common cold-weather liabilities: Carbon Monoxide Carbon monoxide is a silent killer. Minimal...
Vancouver Approves Higher Density, Rental-Only Zoning
Vancouver lawmakers have approved a new rental-zoning policy designed to increase the number of rental home available in the city by easing density restrictions. The new policy will allow four-storey townhomes and apartment buildings on side streets and provides for...
Toronto Landlords Face Colour-Coded Rating System
Toronto City Council unanimously adopted a colour-coded rating system modeled after the DineSafe restaurant rating program. Apartment buildings will be subject to inspection, and beginning in March 2020, these rating cards must be displayed for prospective tenants. It...
Cities Seek to Ban Criminal Background Checks on Tenants
Berkeley, California City Council is moving forward with a proposed ordinance which would prohibit landlords from inquiring about a rental applicant's criminal history, including violent crimes. Several other cities -- Portland, Seattle, Minneapolis to name a few --...
HUD Targets Fraudulent Companion Animal Requests
Most landlords understand that there are circumstances when they must allow a tenant with a disability to keep a companion animal. But for some landlords, each companion animal request raises the same nagging question: what if this is a scam to avoid fees or to keep a...
Court Revives Seattle’s First-In-Time Ordinance
Seattle's controversial "first-in-time" ordinance, requiring landlords to accept the first qualified renter, has been reinstated by Washington's Supreme Court. Previously, a lower court had ruled that the ordinance violates landlords' constitutional rights by denying...
Wear and Tear Versus Tenant Damage: Can You Spot the Difference?
Landlords pay for wear and tear. Tenants pay for damage. It's a simple rule. Or is it? "Ordinary wear and tear" is one of the blurriest legal terms in property management, and the distinction is far from easy to spot. Lawmakers have attempted to define the term with...
Verify a Rental Application in 5 Easy Steps
Landlords face a growing risk of tenant fraud. Providing false information in the rental application is the main source of this fraud, which can lead to significant income loss for landlords. Tenant fraud can impact any landlord, but smaller rental businesses and...