Ignoring Necessary Repairs Could Lead to Injury and Liability

A New Haven, CT, landlord was arrested recently after one of her tenants fell off a second-story porch when a railing broke. According to an Associated Press story, the landlord had failed to address 28 code violations that were brought to her attention during inspections at the three-family home she owned in 2009. The tenant was seriously injured in the fall.

Such a story is tragic and completely preventable. The failure to fix problems that were two years old amounts to negligence on the part of the landlord. A landlord’s duties go far beyond tenant screening for qualified renters and collecting monthly rental payments. A landlord is responsible for property maintenance so that it remains not just an aesthetically appealing home but a safe one as well. Necessary repairs should be made promptly upon hearing about anything that is broken or has not been properly maintained.

To make this an easy part of the job, the landlord should stay in frequent contact with the tenant, taking complaints seriously and asking frequently whether everything in the home is in good working condition. And to avoid liability and other legal trouble, the landlord should always promptly address any issues that arise, either through the tenant or through the various codes and other rules governing properties in the area.

No decent landlord wants to be on the wrong side of the law or cause harm to a tenant. Common sense and a good handyman on call can help landlords avoid such tragedy.

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Renting to College Students

College students get a bad rap when it comes to being good tenants. There are many, many college students out there who are hardworking, studious and responsible. Their lives are about much more than fraternity parties and March Madness. But they are young, which means for many of them the lease they sign with you very well may be the first lease they’ve ever signed.

Because of this age-based ignorance, the landlord that does a good job of being very forthcoming and patient during the application and lease-signing process has the best chance of forming a positive landlord-tenant relationship that leads to timely rental payments and respect for the property.

Be proactive in explaining things the students might not think to ask about. If utilities are not included in the rent, be sure that’s made known and give them the average monthly cost of utilities so they can factor that into their budgets. 

Tell students about the benefits of renters insurance, which doesn’t cost much but can protect them in the event that their belongings are damaged or stolen.

Finally, make sure they read the entire lease before they sign it, and go over each part with them so you know they’re paying attention. It may sound like hand-holding people who are supposed to be adult enough to sign a legal contract, but it’s worth the extra effort if it means less headaches for you later on.

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Credit Bureau’s Use of Rental Payment History Drawing Mixed Reviews

Experian RentBureau, one of the big three credit bureaus, recently began collecting data about consumer rental payments and including that data in its credit reports. Many see this as a positive step, particularly for those who are credit-worthy even if they don’t yet have traditional forms of credit, like credit cards or mortgages. Before this change, a lot of responsible people who don’t have a lot of credit were left at a disadvantage. Now their rental payment history can help boost (or lower) their credit scores. 

Still, there are some skeptics out there. Some point out that RentBureau’s database only covers about 8 million renters. That’s just over one-fifth of U.S. rental households, which is estimated at about 39 million. That leaves a ton of renters still at a credit disadvantage, even among their renting peers.

Others say reporting information on rental payment history may have a negative effect on low-income families struggling to pay the bills during the current recession. If an individual’s scores dip after a few late rent payments it’s not necessarily because that tenant is suddenly irresponsible, but because the economy is making it difficult for anyone to make ends meet.

As with any issue pertaining to credit reports, there are always two sides to a story. That’s why it’s important to stay on top of one’s own credit score, to know where you stand with creditors and lending agencies, and to dispute any inaccuracies.

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