Landlord Question and Answer Forum

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?

Posted April 24, 2017 Reader Rating:

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!

Posted December 22, 2016 Reader Rating:

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

Posted November 10, 2016 Reader Rating:

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.

Posted July 27, 2016 Reader Rating: