Leasing & Onboarding New Renters
Everything you need to know about signing new lease agreements and onboarding new tenants.
Preparing to sign a lease agreement?
Don’t sign it lightly.
Have you collected rental applications from a large pool of candidates? Have you run credit, criminal and eviction reports on all applicants? Collected application fees or charged the screening reports to the renter, to verify they’re committed?
If you’ve done all that, and made all the phone calls to verify income, employment, housing history, etc., and you feel 100% rock solid about this tenant… now you need to make sure you have a defensive lease agreement.
Think of your lease agreement as your shield, your armor. Most state landlord-tenant laws are extremely tenant-friendly, and designed to protect the renter, not the landlord. That means you’re responsible for protecting yourself.
How do you do that? With a comprehensive, protective lease package. Read on for more details, and happy leasing!
“Required Reading” – Start Here First!
Want more? We have you covered! Here’s some further reading on lease agreements, security deposits, move-in and everything else you need to know about onboarding new renters.
Full Library of Leasing & New Tenancy Articles:
Should Landlords Accept Rent by Credit Card?
There was a time when only established businesses could accept credit cards. Fortunately, those days are long gone. Today, even individual landlords can accept rent by credit card. (Hint hint: landlords can accept rent by credit card and eCheck/ACH payments for free...
What Is Prorated Rent? How to Calculate It & Prorated Rent Calculator
Lease agreements don’t always start on the first of the month. So how do landlords charge for partial months’ rent? Easy: by prorating the rent. Here’s how rent is prorated, and how to calculate prorated rent as a landlord. What Is Prorated Rent? To prorate...
When Can Landlords Break a Lease Agreement?
In most cases, landlords cannot break a lease agreement mid-term. For that matter, tenants aren’t allowed to do so either, even if they often get away with it. It’s hard to chase down tenants and actually collect money for early move-out. Here’s what landlords need...
Emotional Support Animals & The Fair Housing Act – What Landlords Need to Know
Pets cause more wear and tear on your property. They can be loud, messy, and add friction with the neighbors. As a landlord you have the right to allow or prohibit pets in your rental units. Normally, it constitutes a business decision: do the pros of accepting pets...
Should You Become a Section 8 Landlord? The Good, The Bad, & The Truth (Infographic)
Heard tales of guaranteed rent payments, courtesy of Section 8? Deposited by the government, and paying higher-than-market rents? If these stories perked up your ears, you’re not alone. Section 8 landlords can make good money, with a lower risk of rent defaults – at...
Should Landlords Rent to College Students? Student Housing 101
One of the most common questions among real estate investors is “Where should I buy rental properties?” They typically mean the context of finding neighborhoods and the best cities for real estate investing. But before asking where, it often helps to decide who you...
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