Advertising Rental Property– Part IV

Posted by on April 17, 2007 under Landlord Tips | icon: commentBe the First to Comment

Other methods of advertising for tenants for your rental property include:

  1. If, the rental units are close to a large university or college, a good idea would be to place your advertisements through their housing offices. The same can be done for property in the vicinity of big employers running employee assistance programmes. You will find that most college and corporate housing offices will list rentals free of cost or for a very small fee. Corporate housing is the best bet for landlords, since they can be assured of the fact that their prospective tenants hold regular jobs, and have passed the same screening tests (for the job) used by landlords. For example, you can be sure they have been vetted and former employers contacted for in-depth verification. No doubt, you will save time and effort by taking advantage of these ‘pre-screened’ applicants.

Next, there are some advertising methods that work pretty well for high-end properties or multiple units:

  1. If, you have upscale rental property, it is best to let real estate offices handle your rentals, and but of course, they will do it, only for a fee. Often, you will find agents supplement their incomes through rental businesses, which also gives them a bead on potential homebuyers. It is quite possible; today’s tenant may metamorphose into tomorrow’s home buyer and their client. Real estate offices may charge about 10% of the rent i.e. equivalent of a month’s rent, while not only advertising, but showing, and occasionally selecting tenants, as well.

That apart, landlords should make themselves cognisant with all rules and regulations before drafting tenancy leases or rental agreements. They must also take all necessary precautions, such as, tenant screenings, background checks on prospective tenants, including making certain all rental lease clauses are adhered to, as insurance for a litigation free landlord / tenant relationship. A simple click of the mouse and any landlord or property manager can visit www.e-renter.com for their tenant screening and background check services. www.e-renter.com, the best tenant screening agency in America!

Advertising Rental Property– Part III

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Now if you need to advertise for tenants for your rental property that is lying vacant, the following two methods are also useful.

  1. Why not list it in Home Finders or Apartment Finding Services, which are extremely popular in some areas. In some cases, you may have to pay a fee to list your property; however, sometimes the tenant has to pay up when renting a listed property. If, the other approaches are not yielding results for you, why not give this one a shot.
  2. Also, you would be surprised to find that small scale landlords, instead of advertising widely and spending considerable time screening potential tenants, prefer to market their rentals through word-of-mouth. Whenever, a rental falls vacant they ask their friends, colleagues, neighbours, and current tenants to spread the news of the vacancy. After all, any existing tenant living on your property will wish for decent neighbours.A landlord who is aware that a vacancy is coming up, can make it a point to visit or send a note to all his / her tenants, especially those you think well off, and ask them to spread the news amongst friends, relatives, colleagues, etc. about your available apartment.

That apart, landlords should make themselves cognisant with all rules and regulations before drafting tenancy leases or rental agreements. They must also take all necessary precautions, such as, tenant screenings, background checks on prospective tenants, including making certain all rental lease clauses are adhered to, as insurance for a litigation free landlord / tenant relationship. A simple click of the mouse and any landlord or property manager can visit www.e-renter.com to for their tenant screening and background check services. www.e-renter.com, the best tenant screening agency in America!

Advertising Rental Property– Part II

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A couple of other popular methods of advertising for tenants is:

  1. Another method of fishing out prospective tenants is to post your advertisement on public bulletin boards in neighbourhood grocery stores, Laundromats or coffeehouses. While, you are at it, why not include tear-off strips that have your phone number printed on them. However, before doing so, you must consider the fact, whether your rental property is the kind that will appeal to people who are regulars at establishments of this sort. If, you are the owner of a high-end rental unit, it is obvious you will not find any prospective tenants from amongst people who do their washing at the local Laundromat. In that case, why not put up your rental advertisement on the bulletin board of the high-end gym down the street, a place where you are most likely to find a number of takers for your rental property.
  2. Using online rental services is a high-tech way of advertising for prospective tenants, nationally or regionally. To find one in your area, go online and do a google search for residential rentals. While, some will charge a fee for posting your rental ad. on the Internet, there are still a few out there, who will do it for free. All you have to do is to search for one that suits your needs.

That apart, landlords should make themselves cognisant with all rules and regulations before drafting tenancy leases or rental agreements. They must also take all necessary precautions, such as, tenant screenings, background checks on prospective tenants, including making certain all rental lease clauses are adhered to, as insurance for a litigation free landlord / tenant relationship. A simple click of the mouse and any landlord or property manager can visit www.e-renter.com for their tenant screening and background check services. www.e-renter.com, the best tenant screening agency in America!

Rules About Holding Tenant Security Deposits

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A common mistake some new landlords make is to drop security deposits collected from tenants into their own personal chequing accounts. However, it is not a good idea to have money belonging to tenants mixed up with your own, unless and until it is being applied to cover unpaid rent or damage beyond normal wear and tear.

All states have strict rules covering security deposits, especially if you are a landlord in the Big Apple, which means you could be asking for trouble, since New York rules are some of the strictest in the entire country. New York state laws require landlords to hold security deposits in trust for their tenants. In other words, it means keeping tenant money safely segregated from your personal funds. The best thing to do is to open another bank account for keeping your tenants security deposits in. All you require is one separate account and not one for each tenant’s security deposit.

Don’t make the mistake of mixing tenant security deposit money with your own personal or business funds, as you run the risk of forfeiting the deposits. As well, desist from borrowing a tenant’s security deposit when you are desperately in need of funds, including pledging them, in order to qualify for the loan.

New York landlords should also be aware of a couple of rules governing security deposits, which are dependent on the size of their rental property, including whether it is rent regulated or not.

  1. Security deposits collected from tenants of rent-stabilised and rent-controlled units must be deposited in a New York bank.
  2. If, your building has six or more units, then again a New York bank account is required for keeping the tenants security deposits in. The same rule applies even if you own less than six units in the building, as the size of the building is the determining factor not the number of units.

That apart, landlords should make themselves cognisant with all rules and regulations before drafting tenancy leases or rental agreements. They must also take all necessary precautions, such as, tenant screenings, background checks on prospective tenants, including making certain all rental lease clauses are adhered to, as insurance for a litigation free landlord / tenant relationship. A simple click of the mouse and any landlord or property manager can visit www.e-renter.com for their tenant screening and background check services. www.e-renter.com, the best tenant screening agency in America!

Advertising Rental Property – Part I

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There are numerous ways one can advertise rental property, however, the manner you advertise in depends solely on the defining characteristics of a particular property, location, budget, and whether a landlord is in a tearing hurry to rent out. A fatal combination of the following advertising methods seems to be popular, and used by many landlords and property managers to get the best results.

  1. Rental Signs, such as ‘For Rent’ is the most common method of advertising, and the sigh is usually, prominently placed in front of a building or displayed in one of the windows facing the street traffic. A good method, it works particularly well in areas where there is a lot of traffic past the building, both foot and cars, and if the building is as well-maintained and attractive as the rental unit. The second factor is important, because if you have attractive apartments e.g. large, spacious, airy, clean with a new lick of paint, while the exterior of the building needs to be painted, or the lawns, car parks, are littered, nor does the neighbourhood do justice to your diamond in the rough, then other advertising methods should be used so as not to mislead or discourage interested renters.Everyone knows advertising in the newspaper is as traditional as ‘For Rent’ rent signs; however, there is an advantage to it, as your ad. Has a wider reach when the newspaper has an online version and you ad. can be viewed by prospective tenants over the Internet, as well. Newspaper ads work best in those papers that carry many residential listings.

    In order, to produce the pool of prospective tenants that you want, try and target your ads, meaning if you like to rent to college students, then your best bet is to place your advertisement in the campus newspaper or housing office. However, play it safe by also listing in a newspaper of general circulation, as you might inadvertently invite a fair housing claim if you advertise only in a particular foreign-language newspaper.

That apart, landlords should make themselves cognisant with all rules and regulations before drafting tenancy leases or rental agreements. They must also take all necessary precautions, such as, tenant screenings, background checks on prospective tenants, including making certain all rental lease clauses are adhered to, as insurance for a litigation free landlord / tenant relationship. A simple click of the mouse and any landlord or property manager can visit www.e-renter.com for their tenant screening and background check services. www.e-renter.com, the best tenant screening agency in America!

Landlord Obligations

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What a landlord should keep in mind is, when a prospective tenant has been promised a clean, newly painted apartment before moving in, you must deliver the goods. It is quite possible, they would have gone elsewhere, but signed the rental agreement on being assured by you that they would be moving into a clean, freshly painted unit.

Your refusal to keep your word may see your tenants taking action by calling the health department and describing the unpainted, unclean conditions, which will be seen as genuine health risks, especially if deteriorating lead-based paint is involved.

As you must be aware, many states have reinforced laws for tenants, who have to put up with harmful conditions that landlords refuse to remedy. As well, it is legal for tenants to carry out repairs and later deduct the cost from the rent, or they may even withhold rent until the landlord has the place cleaned and necessary repairs carried out.

As for tenants, if a landlord makes such a promise, get it in writing before signing a rental agreement and moving in. On the other hand, it is far better to avoid renting a dirty place, as any landlord who shows such a unit to prospective tenants, proves he / she has no pride in the property, and is unlikely to maintain for the duration of the tenancy.

That apart, landlords should make themselves cognisant with all rules and regulations before drafting tenancy leases or rental agreements. They must also take all necessary precautions, such as, tenant screenings, background checks on prospective tenants, including making certain all rental lease clauses are adhered to, as insurance for a litigation free landlord / tenant relationship. A simple click of the mouse and any landlord or property manager can visit www.e-renter.com for their tenant screening and background check services. www.e-renter.com, the best tenant screening agency in America!

Rent Receipts

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Something every landlord wants to know is whether he / she is compelled to issue rent receipts, even when a tenant presents a cheque that could bounce.

Well, many states require landlords to issue rent receipts to tenants, in order to protect those of them who pay in cash, which leaves them with no other way to prove they did, indeed, pay the rent, in the event a landlord challenges their claim. Despite, many tenants beginning to pay rent either by cheque or credit card, state law insists on the issuance of rent receipts by landlords, especially if a tenant demands one. In case, the cheque bounces, the rent receipt issued will not hinder attempts to get the tenant to eventually pay up.

As well, another reason tenants may get adamant about being issued a rent receipt is, because many states give them a renters tax credit, which can be taken at the time of filing their income tax, and tenants who pay rent in cash, do require a rent receipt to back their deduction.


That apart, landlords should make themselves cognisant with all rules and regulations before drafting tenancy leases or rental agreements. They must also take all necessary precautions, such as, tenant screenings, background checks on prospective tenants, including making certain all rental lease clauses are adhered to, as insurance for a litigation free landlord / tenant relationship. A simple click of the mouse and any landlord or property manager can visit www.e-renter.com for their tenant screening and background check services. www.e-renter.com, the best tenant screening agency in America!

Who Pays Cable Costs, Landlord Or Tenant?

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Good question that, if you have commercial office space rented out to a tenant, who wishes to run a cable throughout the building for networking purposes. As the landlord, your tenant is expecting you to foot the bill to the tune of $12,000/- plus. Even as, you are aware that when the tenant moves, the server will go with him / her, though the cabling will be left behind.

Cable may not be your idea, but you will be the beneficiary of economic incentives, which are its most likely outcome, so go with the flow, embrace the idea warmly. When your current tenant vacates your office space, based on network-ready cabling will allow you to charge a higher rent than without.

That said, the next question is, whether you will be responsible for down time or loss of work due to malfunctions in the system. Keeping in mind potential legal liability, since you have a commercial lease, which is mostly a matter of contract, tenant / landlord are free to set their own rules. Be sure to put down in writing, whatever you and your tenant agree to on the issue i.e. they are free to make use of the existing cabling, but it does not come with a warranty regarding its functionability, and you are not to be held responsible for maintaining the cable or to pay for any losses suffered due to its malfunctioning.

That apart, landlords should make themselves cognisant with all rules and regulations before drafting tenancy leases or rental agreements. They must also take all necessary precautions, such as, tenant screenings, background checks on prospective tenants, including making certain all rental lease clauses are adhered to, as insurance for a litigation free landlord / tenant relationship. A simple click of the mouse and any landlord or property manager can visit www.e-renter.com for their tenant screening and background check services. www.e-renter.com, the best tenant screening agency in America!

Landlords: ‘No Pets’ Policy Enforcement

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How does a landlord with pet allergies enforce a ‘No Pets’ policy, when a tenant who has signed a year long rental lease, breaches it? While, asking him / her to remove the pet may result in a lot of heartache and break for both pet and owner, no doubt adequate warning was given at the time the tenant moved in. Obviously, you must have also made it clear in your rental advertisement that pets were not allowed, which legally binds the tenant to abide by this rule, unless failure on your part to enforce the policy, has made him / her think you have changed your mind.

If, you have been openly tolerating the tenant’s pet, then you will have a tough time convincing any judge that that the ‘No Pets’ policy should be enforced. The tenant should have been warned of breach of lease, the moment the pet made an appearance, as violation of an important rental lease term or condition is grounds for termination.

Begin by sending the tenant a written notice asking him / her to cease the violation i.e. find the pet a new home, or else move out. In legal jargon, this notice is called a ‘Cure or Quit’ notice. If, the notice is ignored, a landlord is entitled to go ahead and file for eviction. Most state laws allow tenants a set amount of time (anywhere from between three to ten days) in which to comply with the ‘Cure or Quit’ notice. Be sure you do everything by the rule book to win your case.


That apart, landlords should make themselves cognisant with all rules and regulations before drafting tenancy leases or rental agreements. They must also take all necessary precautions, such as, tenant screenings, background checks on prospective tenants, including making certain all rental lease clauses are adhered to, as insurance for a litigation free landlord / tenant relationship. A simple click of the mouse and any landlord or property manager can visit www.e-renter.com for their tenant screening and background check services. www.e-renter.com, the best tenant screening agency in America!

Landlords: Terminating a Legally

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When is it legal for a landlord to terminate a lease, and thereby end an unwanted tenancy, is a relatively easy question to answer. One can say a landlord is within his legal rights to terminate a lease, when the tenant flagrantly violates any of its clauses, such as, paying rent late, keeping pets in direct violation of a No Pets clause, substantially damaging the property, or participating in illegal activities on or near the premises e.g. selling drugs or some such.

However, a landlord is required to send adequate notice to a tenant telling him / her that the tenancy has been terminated. State laws have set out extremely detailed requirements regarding the drafting and delivery or serving of a termination notice. The reason for terminating the tenancy must be clearly stated, with a warning that the tenant must vacate the premises or face an eviction lawsuit. Or else, the notice should warn the tenant of eviction, if he / she does not clean up his / her act, e.g. pay the rent, or find a new home for the pet.

In case, the tenant complies or vacates the rental property, the landlord has just saved himself some expensive litigation expenditure. However, if the tenant refuses to comply with the termination notice, the landlord can file an eviction lawsuit against the tenant.

That apart, landlords should make themselves cognisant with all rules and regulations before drafting tenancy leases or rental agreements. They must also take all necessary precautions, such as, tenant screenings, background checks on prospective tenants, including making certain all rental lease clauses are adhered to, as insurance for a litigation free landlord / tenant relationship. A simple click of the mouse and any landlord or property manager can visit www.e-renter.com for their tenant screening and background check services. www.e-renter.com, the best tenant screening agency in America!