A Landlord’s Guide to Key Handling Every landlord has a duty to protect their tenants’ security, and along with that the desire to protect their own property. A crucial part of that protection is the proper handling of keys. The use of keys plays a role in many landlord decisions, including whether to use master keys, which employees will have access to keys, and how to handle day-to-day issues like maintenance requests. Here are some things you can incorporate into your key-handling policy: 1. Never turn over the keys to a new tenant until you have finished running the tenant background check ..read more

Understanding the Covenant of Quiet Enjoyment What do noisy neighbors and cigarette smoke have in common? These are both examples of possible violations of a landlord’s duty to provide a tenant quiet enjoyment. This covenant is implied in every lease, whether verbal or written, and it cannot be avoided, regardless of any limitations that may be stated in the lease agreement. Understanding this illusive right to quiet enjoyment is an important aspect of property management. Not only do violations of the covenant lead to costly lawsuits, but protecting the right is good business, as it will incr ..read more

Dealing with Tenant Threats: A Guide for Landlords A landlord shared with us the difficulty she is currently experiencing with a tenant who just moved out.  Although she gave him proper notice and a cleaning checklist several weeks in advance, when she tried to hold him accountable for the poor condition of the property when he moved out, the tenant threatened to sue her. Now, his parents have gotten into the fray, repeatedly emailing the landlord and leaving threatening phone messages.  They say they’ve hired a lawyer and will take her to court. This landlord is not alone.  Man ..read more

A Property Managers Guide to Resolving Noise Complaints Noise is everywhere around us. But when noise occurs in a rental property, it can cost a landlord time and money. That’s reason enough to become proficient at handling noise complaints. These complaints can be difficult to resolve because: 1. Most noise disturbances occur in the middle of the night; 2. It can be tricky to identify the source; 3. Enforcement efforts are not always successful; and 4. Sometimes the complaining tenant is being too sensitive to normal noises. Tenants’ Right to Quiet Enjoyment The right to quiet enjoyment of th ..read more

At some point or another any landlord is likely to deal with bedbugs. As a landlord it is important to educate yourself and train your staff on how to identify bedbugs and what to do once they are found. Inform your tenants as early as possible on what to do if they do discover bedbugs in their unit. Quick reporting is key to lessening infestations and can help keep costs down as a landlord. Who Pays, Landlord or Tenant? Responsibility for bed bugs varies depending on the laws in your area and the specific circumstances of the infestation. In general, landlords are responsible for ensuring tha ..read more

Adding a New Tenant to a Lease Whether someone is adding a roommate or having a romantic partner move in with them, you’re likely going to encounter plenty of instances where a tenant needs to add someone to the lease. Like most things, having thorough and clear processes documentation are essential to protecting your business and your property. So how do you handle adding someone to the lease? Here are a few important things to consider before your new tenant moves in. What to Consider Before Adding a New Tenant Do the Math It seems like the price of everything is going up nowadays, especiall ..read more

Over the past decade, home automation has gone from science fiction to reality. Now, everything from thermostats to security systems can be controlled from your smartphone. For homeowners shopping for themselves, the investment in smart devices can be an easy decision. However, landlords might find there’s more to consider when installing such a complex and often expensive system in their rental properties. The Pros of Turning Your Rental into a Smart Home Higher ROI According to a recent study, residents prioritize convenience and security over community amenities. Contrary to popular belief ..read more

Real estate continues to be an asset that investors want in on and when the market is favorable, you can make recurrent income off rentals. Be sure to invest in long-term research and try to time the market to help you act fast and wisely and maximize your investment return. The United States remains a hot seller’s real estate market as annual price growth has reached record highs. Anticipate a bidding war if you are looking for a new property this year. Rental demand continues to increase in 2022, and Zillow expects a 14.9% price increase in home prices in the next 12 months. Inventory is tig ..read more

Adverse Action Notices are utilized to inform consumers they’ve been denied credit, employment, insurance, or other benefits based on credit reports or background check information. These notices are required to be sent out within 30 days of receiving a complete credit application. In terms of employment, when screening an employee, a background check can affect someone’s employment. This not only applies to new hires but also for denying promotions or transfers to existing employees. If you screen a job candidate and uncover that you need to execute an Adverse Action, you must complete three ..read more

Rental properties can often seem like one of the easiest ways to make money. But like any investment, they come with pros and cons. When renting out a property, it is important to protect yourself and your property from everything from physical damage to insurance claims. Get a Robust Insurance Policy Basic landlord insurance isn’t enough when protecting your rental asset. Having coverage that provides protection from all types of potential losses is ideal for property owners looking for maximum coverage. We recommend insurance that covers you from the following losses at a minimum, including ..read more