Lawmakers Write Bedbug Bill with Tenants and Landlords

Add Connecticut to the list of states that are trying to pass new laws to aid in the fight against bedbug infestations in rentals. To make sure the bill was written in fairness to both parties, Connecticut lawmakers met with both landlord and tenant legal representatives to hash out the details. If the bill passes the state Senate, both tenants and landlords would have some responsibility in ridding a rental home of a nasty bedbug invasion.

The bill calls for tenants to act responsibly by reporting any bedbug infestations immediately to their landlords. The tenants would also be responsible for preparing the living space for treatment by certified professionals. In turn, the landlords would be responsible for covering the cost of treatments until the pests are eradicated from the property. However, if the tenants do not cooperate with providing access to a qualified exterminator, they would have to assume the cost of treatments. The bill includes legal ramifications if either party does not comply.

Landlords also would not be able to rent out a home if they know it is infested with bedbugs, and has not yet been treated. They also have to inform prospective tenants of any treatments that occurred in the past 60 days.

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Landlords Find Boa Constrictor in Rental

Last week, landlords in Indiana received a shock when they discovered a four-foot boa constrictor curled up in the bathroom of a recently vacated apartment. Thankfully, animal control officials were able to retrieve the snake and relocate it to a wildlife refuge area. 

Most landlords and property owners have no problem allowing tenants to live with cats or dogs in their rental unit, as long as there is full disclosure at the time of lease signing. However, perhaps not as many landlords are giving enough thought as to whether or not to allow exotic pets. Have you considered the liabilities that could come with having residents who don’t properly care for them?  For example, some exotic pets carry diseases that can transfer to humans, so do your homework before you allow anything.

Also, before you allow a tenant to keep any pet on your property, make sure it is legal. Some states have laws banning certain primates or big cats from being raised in captivity by private citizens. You should always stipulate in your lease agreement which pets are acceptable – dogs, cats, fish, snakes up to a certain size, etc. 

Don’t forget to also include a pet deposit requirement in the lease agreement. An extra $100 deposit will come in very handy if you have to call in the animal control specialists once the tenant vacates!

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Landlords Regret Reality TV Rentals

Recently, a New York property owner rented his Hamptons home to a reality TV show and now alleges the home was destroyed during filming. The homeowners are seeking unspecified monetary damages from the production company amid their claims the furniture, fixtures, and landscaping were all ruined by the reality tenants.

Troubled actress Lindsay Lohan also allegedly found herself in hot water with a landlord. Lohan agreed to let a Bravo network reality show redecorate the home she was renting.  The renovations reportedly cost Bravo $200,000. The actress has been rumored to have many financial issues with IRS, and now some gossip columnists claim Lohan fell behind on her rent and was evicted from the property before the makeover was completed.  Perhaps the landlord should have conducted a more thorough tenant screening of Lohan’s financial situation?

While these landlords might argue renting to a reality television show was more trouble than it’s worth, others might disagree. Some rental properties featured on hit television shows could mean big bucks for property owners. For example, the beachside home made famous by MTV’s Jersey Shore fetched between $2500-to-$4000-a-night after the show became hugely popular.  

Landlords: Would you ever rent out your property for a reality TV show? Why or why not? Comment below!

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It’s Spring! Time for Landlords to Clean Up The Yard

Today is the first official day of spring, and for many landlords and property owners this could be time to begin assessing your landscaping needs. While many landlords stipulate in their lease agreement that yard maintenance is the responsibility of the tenants, you might find yourself with a vacancy in the coming weeks and will want to fix up your property for new renters and new spring blooms.

Here is a spring to-do list for this year's inaugural yard cleanup:

1.     Rake leaves out of garden areas. Piles of dead leaves will suffocate your existing flowers and plants. Plus, cleaning out beds will give the yard a fresh look and showcase any returning blossoms to potential tenants. A handy leaf blower can help expedite this job.

2.     Trim back dead shrubs and flowers. If your hydrangea bushes still have last year’s dead blooms, trimming them off will only ensure healthy new buds in the coming months.  Tenants will be delighted when they notice lots of budding perennials.

3.     Clean out last year’s mulch. This will make room in your gardens for a fresh layer to be applied. New mulch makes any landscaping job appear well maintained. It’s also healthier for your plants.

4.     Assess the lawn. Spring is a good time to aerate and reseed the lawn to ensure thick growth all season long. If you noticed the property had a lackluster lawn during last year’s spring and summer, this is a good time to begin trying to make it better.

 

Remember the importance of curb appeal, as the yard could be the first thing potential tenants notice when they come for a tour of your rental property. Great looking landscaping only complements a great home, and having both will ensure you can justify charging a competitive monthly rent.

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Questions to Ask When Pre-Screening Tenants

Before you hire professionals to conduct tenant screening services, you should always do a pre-screen of tenant applicants over the phone or in-person. The following are some questions you must ask during the initial screening to weed out any potential problem applicants:

1.     Make sure they can afford the rent. You need to make it clear how much the monthly rent and security deposit amount are to anyone interested in renting from you. Feel free to ask specifics about the applicant’s monthly income. As a landlord, you are within your rights to determine the minimum amount applicants must earn in order to qualify for residency consideration. A tenant who is confident in their ability to make monthly rent checks will not balk at income questions.

2.     Be clear about how what your tenant screening service provides. Any prospective tenant can lie about how much income they make and whether or not they have been convicted of a crime.  You need to make it clear during the pre-screening that all serious applicants must consent to a thorough background check that will include employment verification, past eviction searches and a credit report. You will find the applicants who haven’t been honest up front will most likely reconsider applying.

3.     Ask if they have any pets. If you are a landlord who allows pets in your rental, explain your guidelines from the beginning. Applicants should be told up-front how much extra the security deposit will be, and if you have any pet restrictions. Do you discriminate against certain dog breeds? Do you limit the number of animals per resident?

4.     Let them know how often you will be doing property inspections. Again, a tenant with nothing to hide will likely agree to whatever terms you set forth in the lease agreement. However, if the applicant had previous intentions of hiding a roommate or sneaking in pets without paying an extra deposit, they will probably be less inclined to go through with submitting a rental application.

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