When Should You Treat a Tenant Repair Request as an Emergency?
Most landlords understand that they’re responsible for handling property repairs and maintenance. While the vast majority of requests your tenants make will…
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Although it was designed to assist tenants, the national eviction moratorium, including all of its extensions, has been devastating for landlords. While renters across the country have been skipping out on rent for more than a year, property owners have been on the hook for paying their mortgages the entire time. By the time the… [Read More]
Water damage can be catastrophic to your rental property. Small water leaks can turn into major damage if they’re not handled immediately. Unfortunately, tenants don’t always report small leaks when they first happen. Sometimes they’re hard to spot, but other times, tenants are afraid of getting in trouble when they’ve caused the problem. Are you… [Read More]
Under the federal Fair Housing Act (FHA), most Houston landlords are required to accommodate disabled tenants, provided their requests for modifications are reasonable and don’t impose a financial hardship on the landlord. At first glance, some modification requests might seem unreasonable. For example, it’s a big deal to replace a claw foot bath tub with… [Read More]
Do perfect tenants exist? If you define a perfect tenant as someone who follows the rules, pays rent on time, and doesn’t damage your property or cause problems with neighbors, then yes – perfect tenants exist. However, you’ll need to scrutinize your applicants to find them. To find ideal tenants in Houston, you need to… [Read More]
Being a real estate investor is hard work, and with recent market fluctuations linked to the COVID-19 pandemic, the situation has become even more challenging. After a brief period in which homes seemed unusually affordable – the result of historically low interest rates – in the last few months, home prices have actually skyrocketed. Buyers… [Read More]
Rental agreements in Houston are legally binding contracts that must conform to Texas state law. A lease containing clauses that violate state or federal law can be deemed null and void by a judge. However, no matter how much effort you make to be specific and follow the law, sometimes lease terms can be ambiguous… [Read More]
Do you own rental property in Houston that uses natural gas or propane? Using gas for fuel is a great way to reduce reliance on the electrical grid and it can be cheaper. However, there are some extra guidelines to follow when you rent property that uses gas. 1. Does your tenant have a gas… [Read More]
Houston landlords are required by law to provide hot water for all tenants. This seems like an easy task, but you actually have some options to choose from. For instance, you could go with a traditional water heater that uses a tank, or you can use a tankless water heater. Both options have benefits and… [Read More]
Are you in the process of evicting a tenant or about to start the process? Evictions are fully legal now that the CDC’s eviction moratorium has ended. However, if you’re a property investor in Houston, Texas, eviction lawsuits aren’t always easy to win. The courts generally favor tenants over landlords, unless there’s strong evidence that… [Read More]
Do you own some land in Houston with a separate, detached livable unit you’d like to rent out? If you’re considering renting to a tenant who will share your land, but not your home, there are several things you need to know. Renting out a separate, livable unit on your land is a good way… [Read More]