Landlord-Tenant Law Basics Most aspects of landlord-tenant relationships are regulated by state and local laws. However, federal statutory law may be a factor (1) in times of national/regional emergencies, (2) in preventing forms of discrimination (e.g., fair housing laws), and (3) regarding certain health or safety issues (e.g., lead-based paint). Failure to obey the law […]

Applicant References Even though the most important tenant screening tasks are credit reports, criminal records, and eviction records, references can also be of value in evaluating applicants as potential tenants.  The primary reason why references can be useful is the fact that, while an applicant has a good credit rating and there appears to be no […]

Q1 If an unmarried couple wants to rent our rental home can we have only the man who is working sign the lease? We don’t want to have the live-in lady to have her name on the lease in case the boyfriend leaves as she has no income. If her name isn’t on the lease […]

Moving Tenants In A good beginning for a new tenancy starts with clear understanding of the legal rights and obligations of both parties. Utilizing adequate move-in procedures can reduce problems both at the beginning of a new tenancy, throughout its term, and when the tenant leaves. Provide a Copy of Lease Agreement The lease agreement […]

Q1 A tenant in one of my units vacated as scheduled but left the place a mess. In addition to not doing any cleaning, the carpet is seriously stained and otherwise damaged in several spots, walls and blinds have damages. I have a non-refundable cleaning deposit in addition to a security deposit. What can I […]

There’s never been a better time to rent your house. The demand for rental property is high, but the supply is not. While home prices drop, rent increases. If you are in a position to be a landlord, it may be smarter than ever to keep and rent your house. YouCheckCredit.com has created this infographic […]

Assistance Animals Landlords may be asked to allow an assistance animal for an applicant or tenant with a disability as a reasonable accommodation under federal or state Fair Housing laws. A reasonable accommodation is a change in policies, practices, or services to allow a person with a disability to have equal opportunity to use and […]

Q1 Exactly what is a Living Trust and would one be of benefit to hold title to my rental properties? A1 A Living Trust, usually called a Revocable Living Trust, is a Trust set up during the lifetime (and while having legal capacity) of the person implementing the Trust, who is called the Settlor (also […]

Landlord-Tenant Disputes Disputes happen. Issues with rents, deposits, repairs, maintenance, privacy, and lease violations can quickly flare into full blown disputes between landlord and tenant. Some disputes can be avoided, some cannot. Even then, not every dispute is a call to battle. However disputes could be considered a call to action. How you handle the […]

Q1 I recently took over the management duties of a 10 unit complex in Florida and there are a few tenants that have not paid the rent in over 2 months. The previous management company is not cooperating with me to get copies of the rental agreement(s) or lease(s). therefore I do not have a […]