Property Owner name on Lease Agreement with Management co?

Question

This is the first I've seen this and can't find a definitive answer, hoping someone smarter than me can share input.

I have recently switched management companies for one of my properties and now that we have a new tenant in place, this management company is insisting that my name and initials are on the lease as the landlord.

I've worked with 3 management companies across 2 states and have never had a request for me to add my name and sign off on the lease agreement. I obviously don't want anything personally identifiable on the lease for a variety of reasons.

This management company is suggesting this is the law but can't provide the actual law. Now stating it's their "policy".

Anyway, has anyone else experienced this? It's a first for me for sure...

Thanks

Account Closed · Answer

Update - this is not the law as they initially mentioned, simply their policy... I can work around this by using an entity but still not the desired result...

John Woodrich · Answer

Account Closed if they are large it wouldn't surprise me if they have unlicensed staff.  When I was in classes back in the day there were people who worked as property managers who were finally looking to get licensed.  I also have a couple clients with staff members who should be licensed but aren't..

Account Closed · Answer

This is in PA. I don't think that's the case here. They are a pretty large management company with over 2K properties under their management (supposedly) but I suppose anything is possible!

John Woodrich · Answer

Originally posted by Account Closed:This management company is suggesting this is the law but can't provide the actual law. Now stating it's their policyThis could be because the person is not licensed to handle property management.  Believe in MN you need to have a realtor license to engage in property leasing transactions.  Not sure what state you are dealing with but in MN it would be a license law problem and that may be why it is "there company policy"...

André Anderson · Answer

Hi Account Closed and speak with an attorney on the matter to see what your legal obligation as owner is with representation by property management.

Dick Rosen · Answer

All of our leases are written as tenant leasing from the landlord or property owner. Management Co is listed as the agent for the landlord. Only variance from your situation is we sign and initial everything as the landlords agent. Standard practice in AZ

Nathan Gesner · Answer

Half  of one, six dozen of another.

First off, many states require the Landlord to be named on the contract. Second, my lease agreements are written between the Landlord (owner of the property) and the Tenant. If you look at the Texas Residential Lease Agreement on Google, you'll see it's written the same way. The tenant is renting from the Landlord; the Property Manager is just acting as the agent of the Landlord.

Can you write the lease agreement between the Property Manager and the Tenant without mentioning the Landlord? Maybe but I would check your state law and talk to an attorney to make sure.