Landlords, Tenants Penalized for Reporting Domestic Abuse

April 29, 2013

“Nuisance” Rental Law Faces New Legal Challenge A federal lawsuit was filed against the city of Norristown, Pennsylvania this week, alleging that its new rental ordinance penalizing landlords for multiple police calls to a rental property is unconstitutional. The American Civil Liberties Union, the ACLU of Pennsylvania, and the law firm of Pepper Hamilton LLP [...]

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Police Forced to Mediate Tenant Dispute Over Red Sox

April 29, 2013

Police in Gloucester, Massachusetts were called in to settle a dispute between tenants which apparently centered around the Boston Red Sox. A news report says the conflict started when one tenant removed and hid the cable box for the common area TV because she didn’t want another tenant to watch the game. The apartment manager [...]

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How to Collect Rent After Tenant Breaks Lease

April 22, 2013

Q: If a tenant moves out and breaks the lease, how do you go about making him liable for the rent? If he moves, I would not know where he went or how to track him down. Since moving in, I know he has changed jobs so that would not be an option. How do [...]

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Hoarding Takes Toll on Landlords

April 22, 2013

According to Randy Frost and Gail Steketee, co-authors of Stuff: Compulsive Hoarding and the Meaning of Things, hoarding massive amounts of irrelevant objects dates back to the 14th century. Within the last several years hoarders have reluctantly taken their place in the national spotlight with tell-all documentary series like A&E’s Hoarders. After so many decades [...]

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North Vancouver Okays Secondary Suites in Duplexes

April 22, 2013

The North Vancouver City Council has voted to lift a ban on secondary suites within owner-occupied duplex properties. The measure is good news for renters who have been occupying an estimated 100 such suites illegally. Debate on the measure followed similar Council discussions concerning secondary suites. Renters like these units because they offer an affordable [...]

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Saskatchewan Amends Residential Tenancies Act

April 22, 2013

The Government of Saskatchewan has introduced a change that will increase the rental rights of seniors in the province. Effective April 1, residents living in retirement homes, seniors’ retirement communities and independent living facilities that provide meals to residents over the age of 55 will be able to access the Office of Residential Tenancies to [...]

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How Tenants Use Loopholes to Break a Lease

April 15, 2013

Landlords tend to pour much of their time and attention into an ironclad lease agreement. That’s a wise investment. However, even an expertly drafted lease won’t help protect a landlord if the property is not being properly managed. While generally a written lease agreement will prevent a tenant from moving out early, there are common [...]

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The Best (and Worst) Ways to Handle Noise Complaints

April 15, 2013

Noise — it’s likely the number one complaint landlords hear from tenants. Perhaps that’s because it can come from so many sources, and because people have such different tolerance levels. That can make it difficult for a landlord to come up with an effective strategy for handling noise complaints. Landlords should anticipate noise problems and [...]

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A Landlord’s Guide to Property Tours

April 15, 2013

The key to successful rental property tours is understanding that showing a property for rent is not the same as showing a property for sale. For one thing, the landlord and tenant must forge a relationship that could last for years; buyers and sellers likely will sign papers and then go their separate ways. A [...]

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Avoiding a Common Danger in Rental Properties

April 15, 2013

Apartment fires are a nightmare for landlords and tenants alike. Smoke detectors are a must-have safety feature for every rental property. Despite the risk, some tenants take it upon themselves to disable smoke detectors, typically those near the kitchen that tend to go off while cooking a meal. If that happens and tragedy strikes, it’s [...]

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