Leasing & Rental Forms Help

A realistic dummy laid on a lawn in Michigan each Halloween caused panic when passersby didn’t realize it was a prank. Many thought someone was seriously hurt and called 911 as the homeowner giggled inside the house. A much more gruesome scene, hosted each October on a front porch in Texas, included a child’s crib filled with zombie babies. And, in Illinois, a homeowners association felt compelled to enact new rules about Halloween displays after receiving complaints about a home whose decorations included 2,000 lights that blazed for weeks.

Difficult tenant situations can make landlords feel as if they must turn into ogres to put things right. The tenant promises to pay back rent and never does. Garbage that should be bagged and on the curb each week is piling up and stinking. The lease says that only Mr. Jones may live in the rental, but three friends appear to have moved in with him. And, on and on. Fortunately, someone invented written notices. These simple, straightforward directives take feelings out of the equation, and place the focus on the broken rules. They help landlords manage rentals like a business, rather than a social service. And notices only need to mention basic details:

Sometimes, it may seem as if a lease really isn’t necessary when renting property. There are situations that differ from the typical house-for-rent scenario. For instance, these: ¿ You’ve decided to let your favorite cousin move in for a few months while he looks for a job and his own place. Your cousin wants to be fair and pay something toward room and board and, frankly, you could use the extra cash. Since it’s family, and will be for just a short time, do you really need a lease agreement?

With hundreds of thousands of landlords across the United States, there are few tenant issues that haven't been encountered by someone, somewhere, at some time. And out of those experiences come new lease clauses.

You gathered a pile of applications for your rental property. You narrowed it to several finalists and, after screening a few backgrounds, you finally settled on the best candidate for your next tenant. Now, that tenant is backing out of the lease at the very last minute. What should you do, besides tearing your hair out? It depends on whether or not the tenant signed your lease agreement, and whether you obtained a Hold Deposit. Also, did your lease include an Early Termination clause? Know the answers to these questions before reading further - they matter!

Property management revolves around legal contracts – purchase agreements, loans, leases – so, the law is integral to every aspect of the rental business. Usually, after the rental property is purchased, most “contract time” will be spent on writing strong leases. A good lease that meets state laws provides protection from tenants who mistreat the rental, fail to pay utility bills or stop paying rent. However, even the very best leases get tested. Maybe a tenant gets a new job one month into a yearlong lease and wants to move. Or a departing tenant insists that the carpet was stained when he moved in and demands the return of his full security deposit. Perhaps roommates have a fight, one moves out and the remaining roommate invites in a

How many times have you heard that proposal being made among friends? It is a living arrangement that once was mostly reserved for college students, graduates and other young adults who wanted to save on rent until they moved into more permanent lodgings. Now, it’s an increasingly popular option for 30-something singles and older adults who want to cut living expenses.

It has been more than five years since the federal law on assistance animals got its last major revision; yet, landlords continue to send questions and comments on the topic to our chat, email and online forums. Admittedly, it was a dramatic shift, requiring rental property owners who had traditionally banned dogs and other animals to accept tenants with assistance animals. Even landlords who welcomed pets have been scratching their heads over new guidelines on animal deposits and fees.

Imagine that the single family home you own in a quiet neighborhood was just leased to a family that moved from out of state. You pop by a few weeks after lease-signing to drop off extra keys and see how they are settling in. Instead of beds, sofas and other décor, you find that each room has been fitted with grow lights connected to hazardous tangles of electrical cords. Your tenants have stripped your house of furnishings and converted it into a greenhouse for growing marijuana.

Here's a goose bump-inducing fact for you: Florida is home to more than 80 species of mosquitoes – more than in any other state or province in North America. Is it any wonder that lawmakers in Florida require that windows in rental properties have screens and that landlords repair those screens once every year? It's true! It's part of Florida's landlord-tenant law. In fact, officials there are stepping up enforcement of that rule in light of the recent revelation that dozens of pregnant women in Florida are being watched for the Zika virus. The virus is carried by some mosquitoes and has been linked to serious birth defects.

Your tenant signed a year lease for your rental two months ago, and now she says she is moving out. She explains that she will pay you a prorated sum for the next two weeks while she remains in the unit. Then, she's leaving. And here's the reason she gives: Someone has been stalking her and she now fears for her safety.

Vacationers should expect to sign a rental agreement, too, whether they are renting a cozy cabin for a weekend or beachfront home for an entire summer. Just as even a brief getaway fulfills a vacationer's quest for a change of pace, a lease satisfies the owner's need for asset protection. In fact, short-term tenants are unlikely to view a vacation rental as their “home.” They may stay for a few days and never return, so it's important to provide them with a lease that has straightforward guidelines on caring for your property.

“Nothing in writing” means that every single term – from rental payments and property rules to the length of the tenant's stay – has been either verbally addressed or not mentioned at all. It means that responsibilities such as who's going to pay for utilities may be anyone's guess. And when money is changing hands, you can bet that ambiguity will lead to discord.

The landlord's lease with his tenant – we'll call him Mr. Nice Tenant - is up for renewal. Mr. Tenant has been in the unit for a year, never causes problems, pays his rent one full year in advance, and wants to know if it's okay to have his girlfriend move in with him. If you were the landlord, what would you say to Mr. Tenant? A. Absolutely. It's my way of thanking you for being a great tenant. B. No, I don't want to mess up a good arrangement. C. Yes, but I'll have to raise the rent and your girlfriend will need to sign the new lease.

Tenant's Must Maintain the Smoke Detectors

Most landlords know they need a written, state-specific lease agreement. But what are those disclosures and addenda for? Here's why you need more than a lease.

What do landlords do when their tenants break up, and one or both renters want to leave? Here are some tips to keep your lease income steady.

A growing number of Americans are trying homesharing, and joining multiple families and generations in a single home for pooled responsibilities.

Commercial properties have not fared as well as residential in the last few years, but a creative approach can help landlords capitalize on recent market gains.

If having a better landlord-tenant relationship isn't enough reason in itself, consider all the ways that friendlier tenants can boost your rental ROI.

Short-term rental agreement or 12 month lease? Here are some pros and cons to month-to-month leases versus longer lease agreements.

Rent control may be a tenant's dream, but it creates a host of problems for landlords, along with unintended consequences.

Green lease agreements can be both eco-friendly and profitable, but they also mean more hands-on management and obligations for the landlord.

Where marijuana fits among tenant's rights is growing increasingly murky, as state and federal laws conflict and case law is undetermined.

Tenants often ask landlords if they can sublease the rental property, for early move-outs or use as a vacation rental, but is it a good idea?

Per diem late fees on rent payments can be a useful incentive in your lease agreement, but are not legal everywhere and come with risks.

Furnishing your rental property can lead to increased ROI, but it also comes with extra costs and risks. Here's what you need to know!

Millennials are rapidly changing the rental and real estate industries; here's what you need to know as a property manager or landlord.

Selling a rental property already occupied by a tenant can be difficult, but there are plenty of options available to selling landlords.

College towns can be gold mines for savvy landlords, but there are plenty of risks in leasing to students, so proceed with caution.

Being a landlord isn't rocket science, but there are plenty of things that moving homeowners should consider before becoming a landlord.

Landlords and property managers can more effectively lease to military members if they understand their needs and the military move process.

With the majority of New York Airbnb rental transactions illegal, how can short-term landlords stay within the bounds of the law?

Lease agreement disputes result in millions of court cases annually, so landlords should take care when choosing and completing their lease.

Triple net leases are often used for single-unit commercial properties, where the tenant pays for taxes, insurance and maintenance.

Surety bonds are an excellent alternative to traditional security deposits for some landlords, and can attract and keep more tenants.

Landlords have an obligation to keep their rental communities safe, but how does that duty intersect with citizens' rights to bear arms?

Mobile technology is gradually altering the way some property managers and landlords handle their business, but it comes with its own risks.

A Waiver of Notice is a common lease agreement clause, and in some states it can save landlords crucial time when evicting tenants who have violated the lease.

Leasing to college students carries many great risks, from party damage to unpaid rent, but it also carries the potential for lucrative rewards.

While some landlords use the terms "rental agreement" and "lease agreement" interchangeably, others use them to refer to separate documents; what gives?

This quick subleasing guide walks renters through the process of subletting a home, while keeping sanity and wallet intact. No landlord experience necessary!

Brush up on these common rookie landlord mistakes; if you can avoid these you will be off to a good start on your real estate investing career.

Even landlords with a no-pet policy must allow service animals for some disabled renters; here's what landlords need to know about tenant service animals.

Comprehensive, state-specific lease agreements are critical to protecting landlords from tenant disputes, accusations and lawsuits.

Property Manager Jesse Holland offers valuable tips on possible legal and health risks associated with having a "pets welcome" policy.

There is a growing demand for rental properties that have been designated smoke-free. But how easy is it for landlords to legally enforce?

Landlords and would-be sellers can use a lease option agreement to both sell their real estate and improve tenant performance... here's how.

This article explains how the Section 8 housing program is a good source from which landlords can recruit a steady stream of tenants.

As the number of immigrants in the US continues to grow, so does their impact on the rental housing market and landlord-tenant laws.

Renter's insurance, an oft-overlooked option, not only protects the tenant's belongings but also helps limit liability for landlords, too.

Learn how to safeguard your property, choose the right tenant, write a great lease agreement, and just in case, serve an eviction notice.

Landlords need an airtight, legally protective, province- or state-specific lease agreement, complete with all required disclosures and addenda; here's why.

Q: What is the Most Important Document in Landlord/Tenant Court? - A: The Lease Agreement

One of the most important aspects of renting property is having a good, ironclad Lease agreement.