Section 8: Landlord Information

Landlord Tips for Successful Property Mangement

Before you rent to a prospective tenant, check references and other available information. Contact your newly formed Greene County Landlord Association through GMHA for more information. Doing this may prevent eviction or waiting until the end of the lease to remove a tenant with serious lease violations. Check the following items prior to lease signing:

• Credit history
• References
• Background
  

Put everything in writing. Keep good written records of all your transactions and dealings with your tenants:

• Rental application and lease should lay out the important terms of your agreement with the tenant.
• Document tenant complaints and your response.
• Document any agreements you may make that are not listed in the lease.
  

Collect a security deposit. This is a good way to ensure that the tenant has a stake in the maintenance of your property. If a tenant cannot pay a security deposit, there are assistance programs that may be available to help that household. You may also choose to allow the tenant to make payments towards the security deposit, rather than requiring all the money at lease signing. Do not allow the tenant to use the deposit to pay for late rent or repairs while they still occupy the unit or you may not have any deposit left when the tenant moves out. Security deposits are used for:

• Missed rent payments
• Tenant utility bills that go back on the landlord
• Damages to the unit beyond normal wear
  

Tenants will expect and deserve privacy. Avoid alienating your tenant and leaving yourself open to claims of harassment, trespassing, and invasion of privacy. Always give at least 24 hours notice when workers need to enter a unit for inspections or repairs. If the tenant is not at home when you need to enter, leave a note describing the work that was done and whether or not you need to return to complete the job.

Provide regular maintenance and make repairs promptly. This will save you money in the long run and may allow you to:

• Attract better tenants
• Charge higher rents
• Protect yourself against legal action
  

Purchase property and liability insurance. Your investment needs to be protected from loss caused by storms, fire, water, and criminal act, as well as discrimination and personal injury.

Make sure that any employees you hire are trustworthy. Many landlords do background checks on employees before they hire them. Have a well written job description to ensure that any policies and practices you have will be followed. Be sure they are familiar with the Fair Housing Laws.

Protect your property and tenants from crime.

• Make sure windows and doors have good working locks
• Prune vegetation
• Provide adequate lighting around the outside
• Notify the police if you suspect problems
  

Be aware of potential health problems.

• Know if your property has the potential to be a lead paint hazard
• Follow appropriate disclosure requirements for lead paint
• Take appropriate measure in dealing with lead, carbon monoxide and other home hazards
• Keep your property in good repair
• Make sure that all smoke detectors are in working order
  
  

Before problems with your tenant become a conflict, discuss the issues. Document what you discuss and agree to in case the problem re-surfaces. Resolving a problem informally may save you money. If problems other than nonpayment of rent continue, refer the situation to GMHA’s Project TOTAL.

back to top >>