Homeowner and landlord policies usually cover tree damage caused by perils like wind and winter storms. Most policies also cover the cost of hauling away tree debris if the mess is associated with house damage; some policies will cover cleanup even if no structures were harmed. Although the laws can vary among states, falling limbs […]

You could check with your insurance agent to determine if this is a covered item. However, acts of nature such as a wind storm that cause property damage are usually not covered by insurance because there is no negligence on the part of the insured. Generally a landlord is not responsible for damage to property […]

ANSWER: Generally speaking it is better for a landlord to maintain control over the rental property fixtures including blinds and drapes. Allowing a tenant to select and install any type of decorative items in the rental unit can be problematic. This can be particularly true regarding window coverings that involve installation using screws or nails. […]

Carbon monoxide (CO) is a toxic gas produced by incomplete combustion of fossil fuels, such as natural gas, wood, oil, propane, charcoal, gasoline, kerosene, or coal. When fossil fuels are burned to create heat or energy, carbon monoxide gas is released into the air which, if not dissipated, leads to air quality problems and causes […]

ANSWER: A tenant filing bankruptcy can significantly alter landlord-tenant rights and remedies even if the tenant is current in his rent or not otherwise in violation of his lease. Once the tenant files for bankruptcy a landlord is prevented from taking any action against the tenant to enforce the landlord’s rights until the bankruptcy is […]

ANSWER: An automatic stay is an order for relief to stop creditors from trying to collect debts from the debtor or collect the debtor’s property without the Bankruptcy Court’s approval. The automatic stay stops all collection efforts, all eviction proceedings in process, and eviction actions filed after the bankruptcy petition. There can be serious consequences […]

ANSWER: There are different types of bankruptcies, usually referred to by their chapter in the U.S. Bankruptcy Code. Most bankruptcy filings by individuals are Chapter 7 or Chapter 13 filings. A Chapter 7 bankruptcy filing is a liquidation proceeding. The debtor’s non-exempt assets, if any, are sold by the Bankruptcy Trustee and the proceeds are […]

Active property management is required to protect the landlord’s business investment. When a tenant commits a material default of lease terms, a landlord should take prompt action to cure the default. Lease violations could be a breach of the tenant’s statutory duties regarding waste, nuisance, health or safety, or a breach of the lease agreement […]

The National Consumer Assistance Plan (NCAP) is an initiative launched in 2015 by Equifax, Experian and TransUnion, the three nationwide consumer credit reporting companies (CRAs). The Plan as implemented by the CRAs will make credit reports more accurate as well as make it easier for consumers to understand their credit information and correct errors on […]

Candidate assessments help expand the talent pool of potential hires. Creating a larger talent pool of pre-assessed candidates is a proactive measure for workforce development and future growth. Candidate talent assessments play an important role in an organization’s recruiting, hiring, and retention strategies for a productive, long-term workforce. There are a variety of tools that […]