All Forum Posts by: Michael Jones

I use Cozy every month on several apartment units with no issues. The only issues we have ever had was when the tenant had an issue with their money.

And never never never accept anything other than a live money order or cash on the first payment/deposit. I require this in the exact amount at the lease signing and once I have the money order/cash in hands then the tenant would get keys.

No cash or money order for the full amount and no keys.

Before I offered $500 to a tenant that was not paying I would put the money in the hands of a lawyer that specializes in evictions. If you are in a landlord friendly state the lawyer will have them out in less than a month and the security deposit will go to cover the months rent they owe you.

Do you have insurance to cover such a lawsuit? If not, I would get it now.

A landlord is most liable to a law suit if there is neglect. An example of neglect would be a tenant informing the landlord in writing that they have mold or a water leak that could cause mold and the landlord doing nothing to repair the leak or check/remove the mold.

Then as time goes by a child or tenant gets sick and it gets in the hands of a lawyer. They will frame it as neglect on the part of the landlord.

If the tenant comes to the landlord with a mold concern and it is addressed/repaired/removed the chance of a lawsuit is greatly reduced because there is no neglect on the part of an owner/landlord.

You are asking the question because you smell a rat. And you smell a rat because a rat stinks.

Walk away from the rat.

I will not rent to anyone with a past eviction and the biggest reason is because they understand the system and how to work it in their favor and are willing to take a landlord all the way through the court system before just moving out. 

If it take another month for you to find the right candidate to fill the apartment that is still better than the two to three months a professional renter will cost you by tying things up and milking the eviction process.

@Alvin Sylvain

Even in California the landlord is required to make reasonable accommodations and allow the tenant to make modifications at their own expense as long as the restoration back to the original construction will not be an unreasonable expense to the landlord.

Ripping out a second floor ramp or elevator will definitely fall into the unreasonable expense to a landlord. 

@Russell Brazil

https://dogbitelaw.com/one-bite-state/maryland-dog-bite-law

This link to case law in Maryland seems to indicate that the landlord is and will be liable for a dangerous dog especially in properties where common areas are shared.

First thing. Do not  rent to owners of aggressive breed dogs. Your insurance is going to have a clause that says they do not cover these breeds and is you sign your insurance forms and the dog attacks a person guess who is getting sued without insurance?

Second. Do not spend a lot of time worrying about the service dog/emotional support animal angle that potential tenants will try. As a landlord you have to make reasonable accommodations but you do not have to undergo undue financial and administrative burden. Just have your insurance quote the amount it will take per month to cover a pit bull and you will see the undue financial burden immediately. Turning the emotional support animal tenant away for this reason is the same as not building a ramp to a second floor apartment because the tenant is in a wheel chair.

@Gal Kochavi-Jones

I live in Louisville, grew up in Louisville and have 28 rental units here. My job also requires me to know the areas.

I have two children of my own so I understand what you are saying when referring to making sure you move to a good neighborhood.

It all depends on what type of home you desire to live in. For example, if a two bedroom one bath will work you can probably find a four plex that will cash flow in a neighborhood that will work.

If you need or desire three bedrooms, two bath, a garage and 2,000 sf it is going to be hard to find an investment property to live in and draw rental income from as well without going into areas where you do not want to raise your children.

Feel free to message me if you would like to discuss specific areas and opportunities. I am not a realtor and have no properties to sell or anything to sell for that matter. I just enjoy talking property.

I have 30 year loans with fifth third bank, US bank and Huntington national Bank. The key may be to get away from the smaller independant banks.

let them go. For a reason that is not as obvious. When you rent to the next tenants you do not want a washer and a dryer there as you will be responsible for the maintenance and they will break quicker than other appliances. Let them take their headaches with them.