Whether you own a single-family rental house or several large apartment complexes, you want to run a profitable business and avoid expensive legal mistakes. Every landlord’s success depends on knowing and complying with dozens of laws (especially state laws) that affect you. These articles and resources will help protect your rental property investment and avoid legal hassles, costly disputes with tenants, and hefty government fees and penalties.
Here are the top ten things you can do to ensure your relationships with tenants are on good terms.
Top Ten Legal Mistakes That Can Sink Your Landlord Business
Know the laws in your state before you rent out space.
When Should a Landlord Hire a Lawyer?
In some situations, property owners can benefit from a lawyer's help. Learn when to consult an attorney.
Can I Forbid Tenants From Running Day Care Businesses in Their Rental Apartments?
Whether landlords can prevent tenants from operating a child care in their rental depends on the location of the rental.
Top 10 Landlord Legal Responsibilities in California
California landlords must follow specific state rules when it comes to renting to tenants, including how much you can charge as a credit check fee and security deposit, when you must hire a residen
Top 9 Landlord Legal Responsibilities in New York
New York landlords must follow specific state rules, such as complying with security deposit limits and the timeline and procedures for ending a tenancy. Several federal laws, such as requirements to disclose lead-based paint hazards, also affect landlords in New York. And if you own rental property
Top 9 Landlord Legal Responsibilities in Illinois
The law in Illinois sets out specific responsibilities for landlords, including how much security deposit you can charge, what disclosures you must make before renting to a new tenant, and what questions you can and can’t include on a rental application. And penalties can be quite strict for landlords
Top 9 Landlord Legal Responsibilities in Texas
Successful property managers in Texas know the importance of staying on top of landlord-tenant law. They choose tenants in a nondiscriminatory way, maintain their rental properties, and follow state rules on the limits, uses, and return of security deposits. Less successful landlords too often fail to
Top 10 Landlord Legal Responsibilities in Florida
Running a rental property business in Florida entails many legal responsibilities—from how you choose tenants to how and when you return security deposits. Ignorance of the law can cost landlords plenty—for example, if you need to hire an attorney to defend you against a tenant’s discrimination