All Forum Posts by: Luke H.

A/C units going out and plumbing issues seem to be the 2 major emergencies I need to be able to deal with better. 

And yes, I like my tenants, they keep me in business!

Thanks!  

Hi,
I live in Texas and it gets HOT here... I have yearly maintenance done on all A/C units to ensure they are working properly.  When an A/C unit stops working tenants will make this an urgent emergency.  My A/C guy is very good about getting to the property and getting it fixed.

I wanted to come up with ideas to help avoid this problem and ideas for what to do if the A/C guy can't get there on the first day?  I understand tenants concerns and want to figure out a win/win situation here.

I was considering buying 1 A/C window unit or indoor door A/C unit for each property as a backup for emergencies.  

What do you guys do, and any ideas would be great.

Thanks

I like the ideas, thank you.  I think I will do this:
1 - Partial month(1): Charge full  month's rent & full security deposit 

2- Next new full month (2) ,charge whatever pro-rated amount would have been for month (1).

3- After that, month 3 forward, charge full month's rent. 

4- Find first qualified applicant, try not to hold the house for anyone.
Thanks! 

Team,
I was just curious what you do in this case.  I plan to show my property this weekend. Hope to have a tenant ready to move in.

Since it is mid/late in the month what are options/ideas/best practices for this?
Do not 'hold' the house unless they give a non-refundable holding deposit?
Prorate the rent for what's left of month?
Require pro-rated rent and next month's rent, plus security deposit?

Thanks for your help!

Hello, I am starting on the path towards building a garage apt on my lot. I am looking for resources, tools, technologies that will help me make this dream/vision a success.  From start to finish I'm looking to listen, learn, implement.  Please provide any and all resources, hints, ideas, comments on this process.
I am in Houston, Texas so I'll be looking for software to create some blue prints that will pass city inspection.  I'll be looking for software for scheduling the trades, for pricing, tracking, etc.

Feel free to ask questions and thank you all!

@Bill Gulley, agree on this part and found this verbiage on the links provided above:

certapet link  
"ESA owner is to have documentation verifying a disability and verifying the need for the ESA.".

nsarco.com link
Property managers/landlords are NOT required to make a reasonable accommodation under the Fair Housing Act for ESAs or Service Animals in these cases:

• Buildings with 4 or less units where the landlord occupies one of the units
• Single family housing sold or rented without a real estate broker
• Hotels and Motels are not considered dwellings under the FHA but are considered places of public accommodation under the Americans with Disabilities Act
• Private Clubs

HudDoc link (this one is full of information/ must read!)
Housing providers may ask individuals who have disabilities that are not readily apparent or known to the provider to submit reliable documentation of a disability and their disability-related need for an assistance animal

 I plan to review the other links to make sure I'm doing my best to protect myself and my investments.

@Jim Adrian, I am adding this to my application and lease! Thanks!

@Thomas S., "... has a ESA too bad." Lol, love it! 

Thanks everyone for the feedback. 

Since my last tenants broke the lease, left me with flea infestation, holes in the yard, and dog biting damages, I'm now going to remove that option off the table. As a DIY landlord the pet deposit, extra rent, security deposit is just not worth the hassle I go through afterwards. Not to complain too much, but handling insecticides, fleas in my truck, in my bath tub (next day), feeling like I'm always itching, and nightmares is just not worth the extra dollars... Yes, I purchased overalls, spray myself down with repellent, etc. Oh, feel free to laugh, it's the only way I get through it  :S

@Jim Adrian, thanks for the links, I will review them. I'm curious to know how you handled the situation you mentioned with the lady, her 2 dogs, and the letter?

@Bill Gulley, Sorry, I'm not following you. In the past I've allowed outside dogs so I can't say you are breaking the lease and get rid of tenants.  Now it sounds like if someone claims the animal is ESA, outside only pets won't work?  Great info, requiring tenants to show proof of proper care and verifying a doctors script. 

@Mindy Jensen, thank you for that information.  I will take that into consideration.  I'm curious about this, can I specify in my marketing/ AD (No pets or No animals) allowed? Can I ask when interviewing potential tenants if they have any ESAs? I trying to figure out how to avoid any tenant that needs any kind of animal. Any ideas on this?

Note: I'm dealing with a flea infestation, so far all carpets have been removed. 

Hello,

Need to notify tenants that they must remove all inside and outside pets from rental property.

Does anyone have a Pet Removal Notice letter I can have a look at?  I've created one already, but want to see if there are any pointers I can add.

Thanks!