Landlord Academy 101

In the era of ever-increasing technological advancements, questions surrounding privacy rights are more pertinent than ever. One such issue that has come to the forefront is whether landlords can install cameras within rental properties. While laws differ depending on local jurisdictions, there are general guidelines to consider when tackling this question. Landlords, without a doubt,…

In the complex world of property rentals, boundaries between landlords and tenants must be well-defined to ensure harmonious relationships. One recurring question in this realm is: Can a landlord have a spare key to a property? Understanding the balance between a landlord’s right to maintain their property and a tenant’s right to privacy can help…

Landlords find themselves in a unique position as both business owners and holders of private individuals’ information. It’s crucial for landlords to be aware of the legal boundaries surrounding the disclosure of tenant information. In most cases, privacy laws will restrict a landlord’s ability to give out tenant information to third parties without the tenant’s…

Tenancy, at its core, is a contractual agreement between two parties: the landlord and the tenant. As with any legal contract, there are rights and obligations for both parties involved. But what happens when the initial lease agreement expires? Can a landlord compel a tenant to sign a new lease? In short, the answer is…

Ok, let’s say you are a happy tenant and want to stay in your place, but realize that the lease term is almost expired. You may start to panic and wonder if your landlord can refuse to renew your lease. Or, let’s say you are a landlord who has been plagued by a tenant who…

I don’t know a single landlord that enjoys getting a call from a tenant telling them that something needs to be fixed. Not only does it hurt the bottom line, it requires effort to handle it (even if you hire someone) and you always wonder whether the tenant was at fault for breaking the item,…

If you are the landlord of a multi-unit building, you may be footing the bill for all of the utilities because the building is not metered for individual units. This can be a significant cost and you may be wondering if you can somehow pass along these costs to your tenants. After all, when the…

Whether you are a landlord or a tenant, the rent is perhaps one of the most important negotiated aspects of your rental arrangement. So if a landlord intends to increase the rent after negotiations have passed and both parties have signed a binding lease agreement, it naturally begs the question of whether they are allowed…

The topic of gun ownership has been a controversial one for many years. In many people’s minds, the debate is theoretical. But for some renters that debate becomes real. In the case where a gunowner (or prospective gun owners) wants to have a gun in their rental residence, but the landlord has a strict no…

Landlords are the legal owners of a rental property, but does that also mean that they can enter whenever they want? If a tenant is legally residing in that property, the answer is a clear and resounding no. But does that not mean that a landlord may never enter the property either? Well, the answer…

Are you faced with a situation where your landlord is asking to back out of a lease soon after you both signed it? If you are a tenant, this can be extremely upsetting. After all, you have probably already given notice to your existing landlord, have stopped looking at other rental options, and may have…

When renting a property, landlords often require a security deposit to protect their property from any damage caused by tenants. However, sometimes landlords may feel that the standard security deposit amount is not enough to cover any potential damages, and may ask for an additional security deposit. This can come as a shock to a…

There is a huge population of renters who have pets, so the question of pet insurance and whether landlords can require it is one that is becoming more and more important to landlords and tenants alike. Similar to renter’s insurance, pet insurance primarily covers damages that affect the renter, like vet bills, etc., but there…

As a landlord, I understand the importance of keeping my rental properties safe. That’s why I’m concerned about the use of space heaters in my properties. While space heaters can be a convenient way for tenants to stay warm during the colder months, they can also pose a serious fire hazard. In this article, I’ll…

As a landlord, you are generally responsible for maintaining your rental property in a habitable condition and, in most cases, will be responsible for making needed repairs (except when the tenant causes the damage or malfunction). As a result, landlords will shoulder the costs of such repairs. Now a landlord will often hire someone to…

As a landlord, you want to ensure that your rental property is well-maintained, and your tenants are abiding by the lease agreement. However, the question arises, can you look through your tenant’s windows to make sure everything is in order? The answer is not as straightforward as you might think. In this article, I am…

As a landlord, one of the most important aspects of your job is ensuring that your tenants pay rent on time. Unfortunately, there will always be some tenants who struggle to keep up with their payments, which can cause a lot of stress and frustration for landlords. If you’re dealing with tenants who consistently pay…

It’s important to know your rights and responsibilities when it comes to changing the locks on a rental property. Changing the locks without a valid reason can result in legal consequences and a breach of trust between a landlord and tenant (and can raise huge issues for the tenant if they are locked out for…