Tenant Screening

Fair Housing Law Landlord Responsibilities Federal fair housing laws in the United States, primarily governed by the Fair Housing Act ( FHA ) of 1968, aim to ensure equal access to housing and prohibit discrimination in housing-related activities. The FHA applies to most housing types, including rentals, sales, and financing, with limited exceptions (e.g., certain owner-occupied buildings with four or fewer units or single-family homes sold without a broker). Here’s a summary of the key points and landlord responsibilities:

A Stipulation is used to resolve disputes or address issues without going to court. Especially helpful with overdue rent situations.

Many landlords overlook late and partial rent payment. Neither of these practices are good but it could be worse than you think.

Veteran real estate investors almost never sell their rental property. Instead they borrow against the equity, that's tax free cash!

Rental investors should never pay attention to comps because investors do not buy buildings, they buy return on investment (ROI)

The rules governing security deposits for residential leases are primarily found Chapter 83. Here are the key points:

My Tenant Won’t Let Me Enter the Rental Property What Are My Rights?

There are three federal laws that regulate and define what a service dog is: The Americans with Disabilities Act, the Fair Housing Act and the Air Carrier Access Act. The Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) defines service dogs as “trained to do work or perform tasks for people with disabilities”. Under the ADA, individuals with a disability include someone with a physical or mental health impairment that limits their life.

Tenants who have a bad rental history or a criminal history need a place to live just like everyone else. These characters know they can’t rent from large, well managed apartment communities because they check references. So, who are they looking for? They are looking for a nice, private landlord who thinks he’s is a good judge of character.

Our eviction business has seen a sizeable increase in the number of squatters moving into empty rental units. The stories are similar. The landlord discovers strangers have taken up residency in their rental home. Naturally, they are angry and worried. Will they become violent? Will they destroy the house? How do I get them out?

Successful landlords know you make money in the rental business when you select your tenant. If you fail to do your due diligence it can cost you thousands.

Landlords are prohibited from requiring tenants to pay rent in excess of what is authorized by HAP contracts. The Landlord may not demand or accept any rent from the tenant in excess of the contracted.

Fair Housing: Persons with Disabilities What are Reasonable Accommodations? Source

Your tenant has moved out. While your priority is to clean and paint and get the unit rented, there are a number of things which good business practice suggests -- and some which State law demands.

Your tenant left your rental apartment trashed, damaged and owing you money! Your tenant lied and took advantage of you. He may have skipped or you may have evicted him. In either case, he damaged your rental and cost you money! What do you do?

Bedbugs are small, reddish-brown blood-sucking, wingless insects. Bedbug bites usually clear up without treatment in a week or two. Bedbugs aren't known to spread disease, but they can cause an allergic reaction or a severe skin reaction in some people.

A Warning To Landlords -- Remember Landlords: You have an obligation to inform rental applicants of their rights regarding consumer reports.

Nearly every tenant leaves stuff behind when they vacate, most of the time it’s just a big pile of junk. Trash or treasure, the law says it’s not yours and you have an obligation to respect your former tenant’s personal property.

Is the unit abandoned? Can you take possession of the unit and get it ready for the new tenant? Not if you want to follow the law and protect yourself from liability!

Hoarding is a mental disability you may encounter as you work on a property. People who suffer from hoarding are protected under fair housing law and are entitled to reasonable accommodations in the same way people with other mental or physical disabilities are.

Tenant Screening - Why Use a Telephone Script? Benefits: To stay in control of the conversation. This is a business call. Treat it that way. To make sure everything you say is accurate with no hint of any kind of discrimination. To do a little preliminary tenant screening To send a strong signal that you are a good manager and that you will conduct a through background check before renting. To keep the conversation brief but thorough presenting a professional demeanor. Remember: Callers with a track record of broken leases, evictions, criminal history, etc. carefully listen to every word. They are less likely to call you back if they learn you are a good manager and that you will do a through background check including credit history, rental history, criminal history and demand proof of sufficient income. Also remember : The best tenants are just as fearful they will end up with a bad landlord as you are of a bad tenant. Good tenants like to hear your professional, through, business like tone. They want to hear you say you will conduct a background check. Also remember : The best tenants are just as fearful they will end up with a bad landlord as you are of a bad tenant. Good tenants like to hear your professional, through, business like tone. They want to hear you say you will conduct a background check.

HUD Guidance note that racial disparities in incarcerations rates will result in certain races, like African Americans, being denied housing more often than other races because of criminal screening policies.

Residential Lead-Based Paint Hazard Reduction Act directs HUD and EPA to require the disclosure of known information on lead-based paint and lead-based paint hazards before the sale or lease of most housing built before 1978.