Landlord University

Many landlords aren't clear on their specific duty to guests and visitors to the rental property and what their responsibility and liability actually is. On this episode of RentPrep’s Night School, we’ll take a closer look at the landlord's responsibility and a recent court case that helps clarify ordinary duty of care for landlords.

Whether a landlord wants to install a security alarm on a rental property or a tenant requests permission to do so, there are several things to consider before moving ahead. On this episode of RentPrep's Night School, we'll examine some of the ups and downs of putting in security alarms in rental properties.

When tenants expresses an interest in putting in a garden, landlords must carefully consider the pros and cons of granting permission. On this episode of RentPrep's Night School, we'll review whether or not tenants can change the property landscape, things landlords should consider before agreeing and some ideas on compromise.

When landlords want to refinance a rental property for a better interest rate, a key factor in the process is a property appraisal to determine the value of the property. A low appraisal can jeopardize a landlord's plan to refinance indefinitely. On this episode of RentPrep's Night School, we'll go over some things that landlords can do to improve a rental property before an appraisal inspection.

Even the best landlords sometimes can't avoid legal action and require the services of a landlord tenant attorney  On this episode of RentPrep's Night School, we'll review the situations where landlords might need an attorney and some tips for finding a landlord tenant attorneys who can get the job done effectively and affordably.

David and his wife of 28 years, Julie, founded Gr8 Houston Homes, LLC shortly after moving to Houston. Gr8 Houston Homes currently educates and supports the real estate investment community in Houston with two primary services: (1) buying real estate notes from property owners who have sold their properties by seller financing and (2) providing a hands-off automated monthly revenue program for property owners who lease residential and small business real estate.

There's a lot of confusion surrounding a tenant's right to privacy in a rental unit versus a landlord's right to enter an occupied property. Many landlords and tenants are unclear on what rights they both have when it comes to landlord entry. On this episode of RentPrep's Night School, we'll review the situations where landlords are legally allowed to enter and when they cannot.

A good contractor is vital when it comes to doing major repairs, remodels and upgrades to a rental property for a fair price and according to building standards. But how does a landlord know a good contractor from a bad one? On this episode of RentPrep's Night School, we'll review several contractor warning signs that landlords should be aware of before hiring a contractor for any kind of work.

Thousands of pets are abandoned each year and a significant amount occur when the owners move and leave the animals behind. Landlords have a particular responsibility when it comes to pets who are abandoned by tenants. On this episode of RentPrep's Night School, we'll examine the problem of pets in abandoned rental properties and the steps landlords can take to ensure the health and well-being of the animal while staying safe and acting within the law.

Who does a landlord consider to be an ideal tenant? Creating a tenant avatar, or a profile of who is the best fit for a property, is a good way to focus landlord marketing efforts. On this episode of RentPrep's Night School, we'll examine the definition of a tenant avatar and how to create one based on real data that leads to the best fit for everyone.

Mike Simmons is the founder and host of the Just Start Real Estate podcast and a real estate investor in Michigan. He is also a husband and father of three. Along with his wife Nanette, Mike has been flipping houses since 2008. In addition to flipping houses, Mike has a rental property, and has sold turnkey investment properties to out of state investors. Mike bought his first flip using mostly his own money, and since then has worked exclusively with private investors to fund his deals.

Reasonable accommodations allow for certain adjustments in a rental property or lease agreement for tenants who have disabilities, but how are they defined exactly and how far must landlords go to meet tenant requests? On this episode of RentPrep's Night School, we'll examine the definition, review examples of how some landlords have dealt with reasonable accommodations to meet tenant needs and ways to reduce legal risk.

To fill vacant rental units quickly, skilled landlords use a wide range of marketing techniques to make their property attractive to qualified tenants. On this episode of RentPrep's Night School, we'll examine how landlords can use different marketing ideas and strategies to promote a property, no matter what the advertising budget.

When an unapproved roommate is living in a rental property and is not listed on the lease agreement, it can lead to a range of problems for landlords. On this episode of RentPrep's Night School, we'll discuss how landlords can get rid of unapproved roommates and keep control of the rental property's occupants.

Most landlords will agree that one of the hardest parts of the job is collecting money from tenants who are reluctant to pay. On this episode of RentPrep's Night School, we'll discuss whether landlords should use a collections agency to recover money owed.