A federal appellate court has found that a landlord could be liable for discrimination by failing to protect a tenant who was being harassed by another tenant. The case arose after an African-American man rented a New York apartment. The first several months of the...
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Rental Property Management Tips
Facebook Rental Ads to Get a Reboot
Facebook is changing its rental ad platform after a barrage of lawsuits claiming housing ads on the social media site are discriminatory. Landlords who advertise on Facebook should be aware of potential liability for discrimination that can occur when selecting groups...
Portland Mulls Restrictions on Tenant Screening, Security Deposits
Portland, Oregon lawmakers are proposing a new rental reform that could force landlords there to adopt a "low-barrier" tenant screening policy and diminish landlords' rights with respect to security deposit deductions. The measure, dubbed "FAIR", would limit what...
What Landlords Should Know About References
Previous landlord references are a staple of tenant screening. But are landlords taking advantage of this tool? One landlord says this: "I’ve probably had 10 separate former tenants in my property in the past 10 years, including families and roommates. Two...
Top 10 Tenant Screening Mistakes
Recent reports from landlords detail a tenant who abandoned the property and turned off the heat, causing all the pipes to burst, a tenant who stole all the furnishing from a furnished apartment, and tenants who didn't pay rent for months. Wouldn't you like to avoid...
Tenancy Agreements and Long-Term Tenants
Long-term tenants now are a reality for many landlords in Canada. And that's a good thing -- for the most part. However, there are some downsides when tenants stay year after year. Tenants can gain a sense of entitlement -- "I'm paying your mortgage, so the least you...
Property Maintenance: What’s the Plan?
Property maintenance reduces liability for injuries, extends the life of appliances, reduces costs of repairs, and enhances the overall property value. But to do it right, you need a plan: Create a Maintenance Plan A good baseline for developing a property maintenance...
4 Ways to Hold Bad Tenants Accountable
Holes in the doors. Piles of trash. Months of rent unpaid. It's difficult to witness the damage caused by a bad tenant. It's also scary to think how often these tenants get away with it. Landlords need to stick together to create barriers that discourage tenants from...
Landlords to Pay $74,000 in Dispute Over Occupancy Limits
The landlords of a single-family rental home in Minnesota have agreed to pay $74,000 in damages and penalties to resolve allegations of housing discrimination. The charges stem from a refusal to rent a large property to an extended family, and allegations of race...
Oregon Passes Sweeping Rent Control Law
It's official: Oregon has become the first to adopt a statewide rent control measure. Because of an emergency declaration, rent caps go into effect across the state immediately. The measure was passed over the objections of landlords and despite dire warnings from...