Good reads: This week in property management

Want to green it up?  See Multi-family g for tips on boosting value and pleasing tenants. 

Sending your kids to college?  You may want to make sure you’re not footing the bill for University Presidents Gone Wild.  Landlord from hell, or tenant from hell?  You decide.

A hot issue that won’t go away…Smoking in rental units under fire in Tacoma.

Speaking of being under fire, absentee landlords get a closer look in VA.

Meth wins again, destroying 30 units in a Des Moines multi-family.

Holes in the story?  Three young people fall through a (relatively) small hole in an apartment floor.

Investment property owners (and all you reluctant landlords) pay attention!  Nice homes at rental rates within reach are all the rage.

Multi-family finds it difficult to touch down in Asheville.

Tenant kills landlord, self.  Money is the suspected culprit, which unfortunatelykind of makes it old news.

Everyone wants to be Mel Gibson.  Marilyn Manson’s ex suing over anti-semitic rant.

Filed under: General Information, Green Building, Links, Property Maintenance, Property Management Topics, Ramblings, Real Estate Investment, Urban Renewal , Property Management, Landlord, real estate management, customer service, recession, reduced vacancy, investment, wealth creation, eviction, foreclosure, lease, green, multi-family, affordable housing, tenant turnover

Good reads: This week in property management

Daily finance with every landlord’s prospect persuasion guide.  From Time, the topic gets a “What if?” treatment.

Newbie?  Read about the four hidden costs of being a landlord.

Scandalous Hollywood movie in the making…sex for rent scheme in Fairfax.

Newsweek on Section 8.

Today’s legal term of the day is tenancy at will.  Good info…

2 years, $5 million:  Rent strike comes to an end.  Similar dispute in Baltimore not going so well.

Pssst…at least make sure your building is zoned for residential use, lest you attract the attention of, say, the fire department.

Tenant tips for greening a space, without major retrofitting costs on you.

In Canada, the Worst Landlord fights back.

Credit and the forthcoming tenant.

Filed under: General Information, Green Building, Links, Property Maintenance, Property Management Topics, Real Estate Investment , Property Management, Landlord, Urban Renewal, recession, investment, wealth creation, eviction, tenant relationships, foreclosure, tenant pet policies, lease, green, multi-family, affordable housing, news

Good reads: This week in property management

Just like the magic trick, but scarier:  A tree slices into a DC apartment building.  Astonishly, everyone is okay.

Hmmm…

So much time taken to dodge “bad” tenants, what about bad landlords?  For more “both sides of the story”, a landlord tells her side of an eviction tale.

It must be a sign.  In Dallas, sweetheart deals abound.  In Boston, a different story.

So far, landlord licensing is moving along in Utah.

Indianapolis builder under fire for not meeting the needs of the disabled.

Filed under: General Information, Links, Property Maintenance, Property Management Topics, Ramblings, Real Estate Investment, Urban Renewal , Property Management, Landlord, Urban Renewal, reduced vacancy, investment, eviction, tenant relationships, foreclosure, affordable housing, tenant turnover

Good reads: This week in property management

Big brother (and everyone else he knows) is packing a recording device.  SD eviction captured on video.  Speaking of evictions, perhaps this was a little much.

Porch collapse in a St. Louis rental leads to a healthy dose of back and forth.

Note to self:  Never complain about the 70s green refrigerator.

Slippery situation, landlords beware.  A ruling in Massachusetts makes the word “reasonable” just a little more bendy.  On another note, a doctor elaborates on “livable condition”.

Big investment in the Sun Belt…a good sign?  It appears so, yes.

Changes in the 55+ market, or are this just more of the shift?

Safety check!  This is one lucky New Zealander.  We suggest that you not count on this outcome for your high rise tenants.

Back to the hotel…come spring in NY, you can’t rent for just a bit.

Choo choo choose your weapon.  Railroad spikes–the newest landlord move in gift?

A four letter word that’s no longer dirty:  Rent.

A shifting problem:  Risky tenants and homelessness.

Stained reputation:  No means no, yet one NH tenant fights to adopt a pet.  Oh well.  At least it’s not a coyote.

More on the market that forces an influx of reluctant landlords.  It may be a hot topic for awhile.  No, really.  Seriously.

Filed under: General Information, Green Building, Links, Property Maintenance, Property Management Topics, Ramblings, Real Estate Investment, Urban Renewal , Property Management, Landlord, customer service, recession, reduced vacancy, rental, investment, wealth creation, tenant relationships, reo, foreclosure, tenant pet policies, lease, green, multi-family, affordable housing, news, tenant turnover, multi-family safety, senior housing

Good reads: This week in property management

On second thought, pay the rent when you’re ready.  Horned tenant runs down his landlord.

Renters you have to turn down for bad credit may soon be getting more info on what that means.

An interesting question on tenant-on-tenant disputes, privacy, and rights.  Another view of videotaping.

Another day, another pitbull that probably won’t be going home.  Better to consider a six pounder.

Yech!  The old squid in the microwave gag, emphasis on the gag.

Good news in Detroit: homeless vets’ apartments open to be called home.

Pinscher rage: Landlord charged with beating up tenant’s mini dog.

Adult swim?

$23K in garden damage? Johnson & Johnson heiress Casey Johnson’s estate and its blooming bill.

The Situation:  Jersey landlord seminar offered.

Filed under: General Information, Links, Property Maintenance, Property Management Topics, Ramblings, Real Estate Investment, Urban Renewal , Landlord, real estate management, customer service, home staging, reduced vacancy, rental, wealth creation, reo, tenant pet policies, multi-family, affordable housing, tenant turnover

Good reads: This week in property management

Let’s lead with a story of proper direction–rents on the rise, vacancies on the downslide.  Courtesy of the WSJ, backed up by Business Week.

It just wouldn’t be the 4th of July without disturbing news about another fire caused by fireworks.  Beer and matches, still not a good combo.

Need just a NY minute?  Move along, because it’s not happening.

For UK investors…rental laws every good landlord should know.

And then Ashton Kutcher popped out:  This one may gets cemented in the weird file.

What does it take to be a landlord?  One columnist takes a stab.

If you blink, you’ll miss a new fee proposal for landlords.  This one is in Pawtucket, RI.

Cuomo sues a management company dealing with some pretty serious allegations.

More on landlord-tenant relations, this time out of Boston.

Filed under: General Information, Links, Property Maintenance, Property Management Topics, Real Estate Investment, Urban Renewal , Landlord, real estate management, Landabout, customer service, reduced vacancy, rental, investment, wealth creation, tenant relationships, foreclosure, lease, multi-family, affordable housing, tenant turnover

Good reads: This week in property management

Doing anything to keep from being evicted? One way or another, you’re kind of homeless, right?  CA woman scheduled for eviction may have started a blaze that damaged a 92-unit complex.

NY rent increases take it slow(er).  Stabilized rents stay steadyish.

But bail bondsmen are generally such a trustworthy bunch.  One renting a CO unit leaves behind all the goods.  Like, literally.

Racial discrimination gets taken up in MN.

Alarming–no warnings about carbon dioxide, landlord could be on the hook for tragedy.

Bedbugs, worth about 12% in court.  NYT Real Estate Q & A looks at who is responsible for infestations, and what happens when you let them bite.

The neverending battle over stuff, and who gets to move it when.

The WSJ takes a crack at the gulf between landlord and tenant.

But come on, it’s just a little country.  Snoop tries to rent Liechtenstein for a video, fails.

Shouldn’t we all be balancing a plate of BBQ and a beer by now? Practical tips for you and your tenants for a happy, safe 4th of July.

Happy 4th of July from your friends at Landabout!

Filed under: General Information, Links, Property Maintenance, Property Management Topics, Real Estate Investment, Urban Renewal , Property Management, Landlord, Urban Renewal, Landabout, customer service, wealth creation, eviction, foreclosure, lease, security deposit, multi-family, affordable housing, tenant turnover, insurance, safety

Good reads: This week in property management

The immigration debate comes to Nebraska.

Ontario rents hold steady.

Would the right to rent stop the bleeding?

Summer’s Dangers:  A cautionary tale about extreme heat and your residents.  And, pool safety (or lack thereof) strikes again.

What are they looking for?  Apartment Guide reveals the top online searches renters tap into the keyboard.

Before it’s in ink, Dallas wants to talk about homeless housing.

Pinnacle fights back.

“Everything goes in here except dead bodies”–If it’s a question you have to ask when browsing tenant parking areas, there may be a problem.

To Peep or not to Peep:  Door decor verdict to come in soon.

Medically prescribed dogs:  don’t snub them.

You’d think this would be a solid business plan…No rent, therefore you’ll have to get your coffee from clothed people, says landlord.

Filed under: General Information, Landabout Features, Links, Property Maintenance, Property Management Topics, Ramblings, Real Estate Investment, Urban Renewal , Property Management, Landlord, real estate management, customer service, marketing, reduced vacancy, investment, wealth creation, eviction, tenant relationships, reo, foreclosure, tenant pet policies, affordable housing, news, tenant turnover, multi-family safety

Good reads: This week in property management

A HUD official talks sustainability and the future in multi-family housing.

Rough times for a country manse in PA, good times for multi-family investors.

Barack was here.  Mr. President’s old pad is for rent.

A volatile economy, and aging population…Salt Lake City speaks up on both with an $8 million project assisting homeless seniors.  San Jose is also on board, with new low income housing for seniors.

Concerned citizen award:  Passerby is able to warn apartment residents of an early morning fire and call for help.  Take a look at the damage, and you’ll know the situation could have been a lot worse.

Renting to college students?  See what they’re telling each other about doing business with you.  Also the view from the other side, rental advice for NY’ers

Thinking of dipping into life as a landlord?  A good crash course on what you’re in for.  Are you in Oregon?  Some more detailed info.

Understandable intentions, nonsensical approach.  South Florida landlord tries to oust rent skippers by calling them in as intruders.  Jail jumpsuits actually make a legitimate eviction process look like nothing more than a minor hassle.

In the dizzying world of local landlord regulation, NJ landlords not altogether pleased with ordinance changes.

The high cost of inaccessibility…landlord ordered to pay nearly $40K in dispute over handicap discrimination.

A trashing in Connecticut.  All grammar aside, this landlord has every reason to be angry over a gross, damaged unit.

Filed under: General Information, Green Building, Links, Property Maintenance, Property Management Topics, Real Estate Investment, Urban Renewal , Landlord, Saas, real estate management, reduced vacancy, rental, investment, wealth creation, tenant relationships, foreclosure, tenant pet policies, multi-family, affordable housing, news, tenant turnover, senior housing

Good reads: This week in property management

Embarrassed about the size of your units?  (After you get your mind out of the gutter) see what one apartment dweller does with less than 300 sq ft, proving that size is what you make it.

Also on making the most of apartment living, how to make a recycled apartment garden.

Landlord licensing still a hot topic, button in Utah.

Interesting Q & A about notice, lease terms, and making a reasonable effort to fill a vacant unit.

Update from a previous link…the flag wins.

Here’s a new way to dodge fees:  I’m going to need you to be Mormon.  

No, the fat lady hasn’t arrived yet:  Troubled Iowa landlord plans to call 90 witnesses at his upcoming sentencing.

NJ landlord steps to the plate to provide residents a place to swim this summer.

From the hardly the best advice file, a look at delayed foreclosure evictions and living “rent free”.

In Hawaii, the term “fair and reasonable” gets a day in court.

Who needs furniture when you have 2,000 lbs. of pot in your pad?

Storm season is here…lightning strikes in KC, starts multi-family blaze.

In Milwaukee, a project to remake the term “projects”.

Filed under: General Information, Green Building, Links, Property Maintenance, Property Management Topics, Ramblings, Real Estate Investment, Urban Renewal , Property Management, Landlord, Property, Urban Renewal, real estate management, Landabout, unified communications, reduced vacancy, rental, investment, wealth creation, reo, foreclosure, lease, multi-family, affordable housing, news, tenant turnover