Tips for Landlords

Some of the most effective landlord tips that a property owner should follow include:

1.) Understand the Landlord Act

Every state has laws for rental property owners. One of the most important pieces of advice for landlords is to understand these laws. This is because violating these laws can easily result in legal action. The landlord act usually covers aspects such as rent, the landlord’s obligation, evictions, and security deposits among others. You can get these laws from the Department of Housing.

2.) Implement an Effective Tenant Screening Process

Screening is crucial, especially if you are looking for a new tenant. It helps to find out the tenant’s occupation, previous renting profile, and credit score. A good credit score usually starts from 700 going upwards. Anything under 600 score should be considered not so good.

Overall, you need to filter all the potential applicants in order to choose a responsible tenant. Looking at the previous renting history is important because it can help you establish if the tenant can pay the full rent monthly. Besides that, criminal history is also crucial.

3.) The Rental Agreement Should be Written

One of the most crucial landlord tips is having a written rental agreement. This tenant-landlord agreement helps to clearly outline the terms of the agreement. Some of the provisions that should be in the agreement include:

Full names of the tenants

Amount of rent

Payment option

The duration of the tenancy

Security deposit

Number and type of pets

Handling of specific repairs

This agreement should clearly highlight the landlord’s preferred system of payment and the due date of the rent. Besides that, it should indicate who (between the landlord and the tenant) is responsible for handling specific repairs and whether pets are allowed in the rental unit or not. In the agreement, the landlord should also indicate if they offer a grace period or if there are extra charges for delays in payments.

4.) Frequently Do Maintenance and Do Repairs on Time

It’s important for the landlord to carry out maintenance of the property frequently. Besides that, it’s their duty to repair the rental unit on time. This is because the law requires that a rental property should always be fit for inhabiting, especially if there is a tenant. So, the landlord should be ready at any time to handle repair issues relating to:

Electrical connection

Water and heating system.

Plumbing

Note: the tenant has the right to fully or partially withhold rent if the repairs are not done on time. Besides that, they can sue you in case they suffer injuries or inconveniences as a result of neglect.

5.) Don’t Discriminate Against Anyone

As a landlord, you have a right to choose who occupies your property. However, don’t reject a potential tenant because of discriminatory reasons. According to the Federal Fair Housing Act, a landlord shouldn’t reject a prospective tenant based on:

Sex or gender

Nationality

Disability

Race