I am currently in the process of reviewing a contract from a property management company, and I came across a clause that raised some questions.
The contract stipulates that a sum of $500 per property, up to a maximum of $2,500, must be deposited as a contingency reserve. It further mentions that the agent can withhold rental income on a monthly basis, as necessary, to restore the full contingency reserve.
While I understand the concept of a contingency reserve for unexpected expenses, the idea of withholding rental income to replenish the reserve is new to me. I wanted to reach out to you, given your expertise in the field, to seek your opinion on whether this is a standard practice within the property management industry.
Should I be concerned about this clause? Do you consider it to be a fair and standard practice, or is it something out of the ordinary that warrants further scrutiny?
I appreciate your time and look forward to hearing your thoughts on this matter.