Archive

Posts Tagged ‘Leasing’

Subletting Your Place - Items To Think About

July 28th, 2010

Subletting your home is a great idea if you find yourself in a particular situation. There are any number of reasons you may need to do this, from going on a long holiday to temporarily relocating for work. Many people will have this happen in their life.

Frequently, people will decide that subletting their place is a better idea than putting it on the market. The good thing is that it is a temporary fix and will allow you to contemplate any long term adjustment with more time.

By subletting you are giving yourself the option of moving back in if things do not goes as planned. The other great thing is that it will help you develop your equity as basically, the tenant will be paying off any loan you have.

There might be local restrictions or regulations in your area in regards to subletting a home. Be sure to consult with your local city council and register as a landlord if you find that it is necessary.

Gather as much information as you can regarding rental prices for similar properties in the same location. You can set the rental price for your home based on this information.

Be sure to investigate anyone who you may consider subletting your home to make sure they seem reliable. This can greatly reduce the number of potential problems you might run into while subletting.

Keep careful records of when the rent is paid, and make any repairs that your property might need on a timely basis. Also, always make sure to let your tenant know when you will be entering the property and be respectful of their privacy.

Try to keep in touch with your tenant and develop a good relationship. By doing this you can catch little issues and nip them in the bud.

Legal Advice

, , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

Ways To Prepare An Agreement Between The Landlord And Renter

June 18th, 2010

Having a verbal agreement is certainly not enough anymore, at least when it comes to the tenant-landlord relationship. It is best to have all agreements written down as a legal document, this way both parties are protected by the original terms if a dispute occurs.

Of course, there should not be a dispute occurring in the first place. Both parties read and signed the agreement, and they should have taken any the necessary time to review it in full before doing so.

Usually, the general specifications in the agreement will cover areas such as rent, how it should be paid, when it should be paid, what happens if it is not paid, deposits, and the process of ending the agreement. Also, it may include things such as property maintenance, utilities, how long the lease is, and what methods of mediation will be offered in the case of any potential disagreements.

In addition, there may be certain rules outlines for parking, pets, smoke, and other lifestyle choices. This can also include landscaping maintenance, such as cutting the grass or shoveling the snow.

Also, the agreement will have all the relevant details for both signees, including phone numbers, email addresses, and physical addresses. It is not uncommon for this to be forgotten and then for trouble to occur because of an inability to contact the other party.

The best agreements will have a section that deals with how disagreements can be mediated. Things such as late rent and potential eviction will be outlined and methods of resolution covered in this section.

You can find template agreements on the internet now days. If you download one of these, make sure you fill in all the relevant sections and adapt where necessary.

You will find every state has a different set of rules and obligations. Remember, if in doubt, get legal advice.

Legal Advice

, , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

Discussing A Rent Reduction With Your Management Company In A Bad Economy

June 15th, 2010

The recession has hit many people hard and one of the toughest areas for people nowadays is rent. Frequently, people who have been laid off or have taken a pay cut will look to negotiate lower rent so they can survive.

In order to do this effectively, you need to evaluate the apartment you live in. Is it managed by a company or an individual? Chances are if it is run by an individual person, you will be able to get a better deal.

The first thing to do now is to determine who to talk to. You do not want to waste your efforts on someone that is not authorized to legitimately lower the rent.

Next, it is time to do some comparison shopping. Doing the research on the current rental rates is essential so you can negotiate better.

You may find that rents in the area have dropped recently, so that during negotiations, you could tell your landlord that you could easily find a cheaper place now. Though this may be time consuming, having some figures to tell the landlord will give you the upper hand in the negotiating process.

Also, you should tell them that the motivation for you trying to get a lower rent is that your financial position has changed. Emphasize what a good tenant you have been and how well you have maintained your unit.

This simple story will show the landlord that you are a responsible tenant and that lowering your rent is their wisest option. If he or she does not, they will need to spend a significant amount of money and valuable time trying to find a new tenant - something that no landlord likes doing during a recession.

Giving lower rent to an existing tenant is always better than having no tenant at all. It makes everyone’s lives easier and makes things run smoother.

Legal Advice

, , , , , , , , , , , , , ,