James's Blog

When a prospective tenant calls and wants to see a vacant or soon-to-be-vacant rental unit, set up an appointment time with them for a showing.  Let the tenant walk around the property, inspect the unit, and ask any questions they have about the unit, building or neighborhood.  Point out the feat...

Sometimes unforeseen changes occur in peoples' lives that necessitate a sudden and even unwanted move.  Job change or loss, family circumstances, and a bevy of other situations may mean a sudden move for one of your tenants.  As a landlord, there may be several reasons to allow your tenant to bre...

Many lease agreements make allowances for "normal wear and tear," but what does that term really mean?  It's a vague term that means different things to different people.  The important thing to remember is that normal wear and tear differs from damages.  Here is a list of some examples of normal...

The kind and degree of security you provide for your rental property depends entirely on local laws.  Some local laws may require you to provide outdoor security lighting. Fences may be necessary to make your property more secure.  It is recommended that you use wrought iron or open-slatted fence...

What should a landlord do if a tenant makes and pays for a repair, then deducts the cost from their rent payment without prior authorization? If the repair was necessary and the cost reasonable, it's probably best to accept the deduction from the rent, provided the receipt and explanation is incl...

If a tenant vacates a rental unit, and leaves personal property behind, what is a landlord to do? Each jurisdiction has it's own laws regarding abandoned personal property.  Generally, a landlord must try to contact a former tenant at every known address the tenant has provided including a work a...

There is much to feel stressed about in today's world - the roller coaster that is the economy, record unemployment rates, the extremely challenging real estate market, and now the swine flu!  Life is always full of stresses of one sort or another.  And the fact that the news media likes to capit...

What rights does a tenant have when a landlord refuses to do repairs? Well, it depends largely on the type of repair.  If a needed repair renders a unit inhabitable and could be considered an emergency, a court would likely side with the tenant.  If a toilet is backing up and not working, a court...

If you are a landlord and owner of a building for any significant period of time, chances are you will at some point have to deal with major repairs or renovations to your property.  You may be wondering what the best way is to plan for such work.  Here are some things to keep in mind to make the...

There are several things a landlord can do to reduce utility and energy costs.  Some simple and very effective things are installing energy efficient appliances, installing timers, and weatherizing your building. Many makers of appliances now have energy saver lines that save a great deal of elec...