Tenants who suddenly vanish -- whether to avoid an eviction or because they simply wanted to move on -- create a plethora of problems for landlords. A lease agreement passes the right of possession of the property to the tenant. That's a legal right. The landlord...
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Rental Property Management Tips
Landlord Tips: Occupancy Limits 101
A landlord in Alabama is facing a legal battle after refusing to rent a three-bedroom, single-family home to a mother with three children. The case highlights the need for landlords to understand today's rules regarding occupancy limits. These discrimination lawsuits...
U.S. Apartment Rent Growth Slows
While occupancy remains high across the country, rent growth has cooled, according to a mid-year rental market report from real estate technology and analytics firm RealPage. According to figures released by the company last week, the average rent increase currently...
HUD Gets Tough on Lead-Paint Hazards
The federal government announced that it issued pre-penalty notices to several landlords for lead-based paint hazards last month. These landlords face significant penalties unless an acceptable settlement is reached. The warnings were issued in conjunction with...
3 Missteps That Trigger Landlord Nightmares
Heard any scary tenant stories lately? While nightmare tenancies are rare, each time one occurs it sends shock waves throughout the landlord community. No one can completely prevent tenants from hell -- and the blame rests solely with the bad tenant -- but there do...
How to Screen Tenants Without Violating Canada’s Privacy Laws
According to a recent news report, there has been a marked increase in the number of privacy complaints filed by tenants against landlords. One major issue centers around tenant screening. Canadians landlords are subject to the requirements of the Personal Information...
Alberta Tenants Demand Rent Control
A grassroots tenant advocacy group based in Calgary is demanding rent control measures in Alberta. The group has initiated a petition drive which so far has netted around 2,000 signatures, according to its website. Currently, Alberta landlords are free to raise rent...
Landlords: Is Your Landscaping a Liability?
Landscaping around a rental property improves curb appeal, attracts good tenants, and increases the property value. However, it has a downside. Done badly, landscaping can increase landlord liability: Landscaping attracts pests. Bringing a little nature to the...
Landlord Must Answer for Late Fee Policy
Landlord Facing Class-Action Lawsuit Over Late Fees A major corporate landlord will have to answer for a late-fee policy that tenants say is illegal. According to a report, the landlord owns 82,500 single-family units nationwide, making it the country's largest...
More Landlords Confronting Mandatory Section 8
Landlords in Bellingham, Washington and Boulder, Colorado are among the more recent to be confronted with new rental laws that require them to accept housing vouchers, including federal programs like Section 8. While landlord participation in voucher programs is...