Tips and Advice for Landlords
Common Landlord Mistakes
- Failure to verify actual rents, expenses, leases, zoning restrictions, repair and improvement costs before purchasing property.
- Failure to hire properly insured contractors and property managers.
- Hiring uninsured tenants to do work for you.
- Failure to obey Fair Housing Laws.
- Failure to check a tenant’s references: past and current landlord, past and current employer, income and credit history.
- Failure to utilize a Lease Application and Lease.
- Failure to collect a security and pet security deposit.
- Failure to mitigate environmental issues such as lead paint, asbestos, etc.
- Failure to maintain safe and clean apartments with smoke detectors, handrails, proper lighting, and childproof decks, balconies, windows and pools.
- Failure to keep lawns, driveways, stairwells and sidewalks properly maintained and free of snow, ice, garbage and debris.
- Failure to maintain and inspect properties on a regular basis.
- Failure to respond efficiently to tenant complaints and dangerous repairs.
- Renting out improperly zoned commercial and residential space.
- Failure to meet municipal and state code requirements.
- Failure to evict tenants and their property by appropriate legal means.
- Failure to photograph property and utilize a tenant move-in move-out form.
