Landlords that use consumer credit reports as their primary tenant screening tool for rental qualification may have noticed a difference in the public reporting data section of the credit report. The three national credit reporting agencies (NCRAs), Equifax, Experian, and TransUnion have implemented enhanced standards for the collection and timely updating of public records data […]

Why Screening Contingent Workers Should Be a Best Practice Every individual who performs work for an organization introduces a certain measure of risk into that organization regardless of the individual’s work classification. Background screening is an essential risk mitigation tool to help protect the organization from direct and indirect business liabilities. Background screening of all […]

Landlords can protect themselves against a variety of hazard and liability losses by purchasing adequate types and amounts of insurance coverages. Having adequate insurance coverage is an important business decision by the landlord to help protect his rental investment. Tenants should protect themselves in a similar manner by purchasing renters insurance to provide coverage for […]

As a business matter, the cause of the fire will usually determine liability for damages. If the fire was a result of faulty equipment or a structural element essential to the property, you would generally be considered the liable party and responsible for restoring the property to habitable condition. If the fire was determined to […]

You should check your state’s landlord-tenant statutes to determine whether you can legally require your tenants to purchase renters insurance. In many states, unless expressly prohibited by state statute, a landlord can require renters insurance as a rental term and condition of the landlord’s lease agreement. A tenant can be required to purchase renters insurance […]

Collecting rent can be a challenge for some landlords despite strong lease agreements and thorough tenant screenings for applicant/tenant demonstrated willingness and ability to pay as agreed. Full and timely rent payment by the tenant may be a matter of how easy it is to pay rent. If the rent payment procedures are easily understandable […]

Having the tenant do repairs and maintenance in exchange for reduced rent can lead to future problems with both the tenancy and satisfaction of work performance. It may be a better business practice to separate work and tenancy issues. You could pay the tenant for repair work as documented in a written work agreement, taking […]

First, I would consider it unusual that every lease for one year is never renewed and an annual inspection. When tenants are reasonably happy with their current rental unit, they usually remain a tenant for longer than the one year of the original lease agreement. It’s costly and inconvenient for a tenant to move except […]

You should research state landlord-tenant statutes and local code requirements to determine what maintenance and repair responsibilities may be legally assigned to the tenant and what responsibilities can be assigned to the tenant as a practical matter. Many landlords delegate custodial maintenance to the tenants. Custodial maintenance is routine upkeep of the rental property. Maintenance […]

Landlord rental policies that are firm, fair, legally compliant, and consistently applied help to protect the landlord’s business investment, rental property, and tenants. Screening standards are strong risk prevention measures to identify red flag issues in the application process. Applicants selected for tenancy are qualified to the landlord’s business standards and contracted to the lease […]