Landlords spend a great deal time and effort to attract and qualify potential tenants. Not all prospects who express some interest in the rental vacancy will complete an application. Not all applicants will qualify to the landlord’s rental criteria. All applicants that do complete the application process will require the landlord to perform tenant screenings […]

While there is no federal requirement to disclose a death that occurred on a rental property, a few states address this issue by statute which requires landlord disclosure of a death in a rental unit. In some disclosure states a landlord has the legal duty to truthfully answer a direct question from a prospective tenant […]

State statutes address various landlord-tenant issues, regulate landlord-tenant duties and obligations, and require landlord disclosure of important landlord-tenant laws. Notice and disclosure requirements will vary among the states. The most common state disclosure requirements are policies on owner and agent identity, security deposits, nonrefundable fees, and move-in/move-out checklist requirements. Owner/Agent The majority of mandatory disclosure […]

Federal, state, and local laws require landlords to make certain disclosures to tenants at or before lease signing and tenant move-in. Mandatory disclosures help protect the tenant’s legal rights and provide health and safety measures under environmental protections and housing code standards. Mandatory disclosures of important landlord-tenant laws and landlord rental policies help the tenant […]

The Housing Choice Voucher Program (HCVP) is a tenant-based housing assistance program for very low-income families, the elderly, and the disabled to afford decent, safe, and sanitary housing in the private housing market. Landlords and tenants must qualify to participate in the HCVP program and comply with program guidelines and requirements. The housing voucher program […]

Research studies on bed bug management strategies show prevention of bed bug infestations is less costly than costs associated with treatment of existing infestations. This is particularly true in multi-unit housing that can be more vulnerable to pest infestations. Prevention and early detection of bed bug infestations can help stop bed bug populations from spreading […]

Despite the landlord’s policies and rules, it is not uncommon for a tenant to move in another person or persons. A lease clause that sets reasonable limitations on guests and overnight stays can help prevent tenants from moving in their family members or friends as their guests. These guests often become the full-time occupants who […]

As a general statement, there is no national occupancy standard for rental units. Landlords must develop occupancy policies that are legally compliant at the governing level or agency requirement and appropriate to the particular rental unit and specific situation. Legally compliant policies are commonly based upon an industry standard of “reasonable occupancy.” An occupancy policy […]

In general, justification for occupancy limitations is generally based on health and safety considerations, but financial consideration can also be of concern to landlords regarding real or perceived issues related to more occupants such as wear and tear, damage, parking spaces, utilities, noise, disturbances to neighbors, demands on services, and overcrowding of common areas. A […]

Enforcing the terms and conditions of the lease agreement is critical to protecting the safety and rights of tenants and neighbors. Warnings and notices are issued to tenants whose actions violate rental terms. Failure of a tenant to comply with lease terms and conditions can result in lease termination and possible eviction from the rental […]