A lease agreement should include provisions that help landlords avoid income loss -- including these: Joint and Several Liability “Tenants shall be jointly and severally liable for all obligations under this lease.” Few tenants understand the legal ramifications of...
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Rental Forms
6 Ways to Improve Your Tenancy Agreement
A tenancy agreement is a useful tool -- if it contains the right provisions. Generic or standard leases tend to leave out the details, leaving tenants in the dark. These provisions can strengthen the lease, light the way for tenants, and make life easier for...
4 Potential Problems with Your Lease Agreement
With all the variations in city, state, and federal rental laws, drafting the perfect lease agreement is a moving target. If your lease has never been reviewed by an attorney, or if it has been a while since it was updated, you might want to check for these potential...
Lease Confusion Forces Tenancy Off Course
When a tenant first rented a unit, the landlord agreed in writing that the tenant could have a roommate, and if that roommate moved out, the tenant could remain. So, not a co-tenancy agreement. Later, after the first roommate moved out, the tenant found another...
Landlord Must Amend Tenancy Agreement
A British Columbia landlord was ordered to drop a lease provision that allowed for an above-guideline rent increase in the event the landlord incurred additional costs. According to a news report, the provision allowed the landlord to increase rent by an additional...
4 Easy Ways to Improve Your Landlord Forms
Rental forms are the backbone of property management, so why not give yours a little extra punch? Check out these four tips: 1. When preparing a rental ad, include these simple words: Tenant Background Check Required. Tenants with bad rental history or bad credit...
5 Landlord Forms, 5 Ways to Make Them Better
Rental forms are key to good property management. Here are some ideas to help you make the most of your landlord forms: 1. Rental ad Not all landlords see the rental ad as a part of the leasing package, but the ad is a tenant's first impression and sets the stage for...
These Lease Add-Ons Help Prevent Evictions
Standard lease agreements can work when enforcing a landlord's rights, like in the case of an eviction. But enforcement is not the only goal. The lease agreement can be a deterrent -- and prevent the actions that give rise to evictions in the first place. For the...
Why Standard Tenancy Agreements Fall Short
The idea of a standard one-size-fits-all rental lease is appealing in theory, but it rarely works out that way in practice. Simply stated, standard leases are too generic to do the job. Another flaw in some standard tenancy agreements is an underlying misconception...
Landlord Penalized for Faulty Lease
A landlord in New York has agreed to pay a $5,000 fine after a complaint that he provided tenants with a lease agreement that contained illegal provisions. According to the state's attorney general, the landlord's lease included provisions that: Denied tenants the...