All Forum Posts by: Steve Nowak

Laws vary by location.  In my state, a landlord can charge a tenant only for repairs needed b/c of the tenant's misuse or negligence.  And you don't want to discourage tenants from reporting issues. 

Whether or not you can charge for your own labor can vary by location too.  Some courts might not look too kindly at that.

I have a clause in the lease specifying that partial payments are not acceptable, and that the date on which payment is received (not the postmarked date) is when rent is considered payed.

Be sure you follow your state law regarding late fees, including when they can be applied and any other limits.

I also specify that payments will always be credited to the most outstanding balances first, regardless of any notation on the check or elsewhere.  

For safety reasons, you might want to consider banning space heaters altogether.   

If you do allow it, be sure that you get written agreement that you won't be responsible for maintaining the appliances, or replacing them if them if they become un-repairable.   And require that installation of the washer/dryer is to be done by a licensed and insured professional, and that the tenant will be liable for any damages caused by faulty installation. 

As others said, try to reason with the Board, continue pointing out that new flooring is actually quieter than what's required, and try to get flooring specialists to back you up.  Also try talking with other owners in the community.  They might be willing to sign a petition against their unreasonableness.   Another option is to run for the Board yourself, or encourage and campaign for a like-minded owner to do so.  

While it might not be illegal to share information, that doesn't mean that a landlord won't be subject to potential lawsuits for providing a bad reference, or even a good reference.   This is similar to employment references, and that's why many employers refuse to provide information other than the very basics (e.g., this person worked here from X date to Y date).   Here is some food for thought:

Mum's the Word: Landlord Liability when Providing a Reference for a Former Tenant

The Legal Issues with Informing Other Landlords of Bad Tenants

What Can I Say When Giving a Landlord Reference?

How does the property look now (e.g., is it neat, clean, and uncluttered)?     I've had tenants that weren't the best housekeepers, and decided to wait until after they left to show the property.  Yeah, that meant that I had a longer turnover time.  But, I was able to make sure the property was acceptable for showing, and actually got a higher rent than I probably would have gotten otherwise.  

Also, be sure that you completely follow the law regarding return of the security deposit.  The law is very strict, and violating it can be costly.  For example, if you keep any part of the security deposit, you need to sign your statement under the pains and penalties of perjury.   

Be sure that you are familiar with local landlord/tenant laws.  Then do a Google search to check if any local real estate organizations have lease templates available.  You can also check the websites of local colleges with housing - they often have sample leases available.  Also check some of the websites of large apartment complexes in the area - companies that manage them have attorneys to be sure the leases comply with local laws.

Seattle has a new regulation that prohibits landlord's from performing a criminal background check on prospective tenants.   Is anyone area of any other locations with this restriction?

Hold them liable for rent until the house is re-rented.