Court Says Landlord Should Have Intervened in Tenant Dispute

December 16, 2019

A U.S. Court of Appeals last week passed down a ruling broadening the liability that landlords face for racial discrimination under the Fair Housing Act. The court found that a landlord could be liable for discrimination under the FHA for failing to resolve a dispute between two tenants that was racially motivated. Using the language […]

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Kansas City Passes “Tolerable” Tenant Rights Bill, Tenant Screening Restrictions

December 16, 2019

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 popular with investors and where 46% […]

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The 3 Fundamentals of Property Management

December 9, 2019

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 impossible to predict every permutation that a tenancy can take, but it is easy to minimize income loss […]

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Landlord Tips: What to Watch Out for This Winter

December 9, 2019

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 exposure still is dangerous to tenants’ health. Government of Canada warns common activities like […]

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Vancouver Approves Higher Density, Rental-Only Zoning

December 9, 2019

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 six-storey residential mixed with commercial on main streets. In addition, “rental-only” zoning will be applied […]

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Toronto Landlords Face Colour-Coded Rating System

December 9, 2019

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 is not clear what the specific reports will look like, however, the DineSafe program uses a simple […]

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Cities Seek to Ban Criminal Background Checks on Tenants

November 18, 2019

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 — recently passed or are considering similar initiatives, referred to as “fair chance” or “clean slate” ordinances. While […]

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HUD Targets Fraudulent Companion Animal Requests

November 18, 2019

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 pet in a no-pets building? The problem is […]

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Court Revives Seattle’s First-In-Time Ordinance

November 18, 2019

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 them the ability to rent to the tenants of their choice. The first-in-time ordinance requires landlords to provide tenants with a […]

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Wear and Tear Versus Tenant Damage: Can You Spot the Difference?

November 18, 2019

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 more clarity. In Texas, the circular definition […]

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