All Forum Posts by: Donny Widjaja

Thanks @Bill Gulley . This is my first time trying to be a landlord.

I'm mostly just confused with what to do. I plan to use MySmartMove to process the application, and background checks for my tenants. However, I don't know if MySmartMove software comply with Texas regulation or not. That's why I would like to send out an additional email to ensure I comply with the rules.

I live in Texas, so I have to comply with the rules for application fee listed on this website.

The website basically stated that "At the time a prospective tenant is given a rental application, the landlord must also provide written notice of the tenant selection criteria and the grounds for which a rental application may be denied".

Tenant Selection Criteria:

• Minimum lease term is 12 months
• No pets allowed
• No smoking allowed
• Monthly income is at least 3 times rent (approximately $4,000).
• Have not declared bankruptcy in the last 60 months
• Must pass the TransUnion MySmartMove screening process (credit score and background check), and recommended by the system.
• If you currently live in a rental property, you must be able to provide a reference from the current landlord

What do you guys think about the criteria I've written? Should I include anything else?

Thanks

Hi @Chi Cheung ,

I am also new at BP, and I just created an LLC, mainly for legal protection for this moment.

I found this discussion about the benefit of having an LLC in this forum, and I remembered reading something about creating individual LLC for each house somewhere on the web. I believe the article stated the benefit of having an LLC for each house is to separate each house to multiple entity. So, in case you are getting sued by tenant in house 1 for outrageous amount of money, the tenant cannot get your other houses.

However, after further research, I also realized that you can also minimize your risk by using a good contract and insurance.

Donny