Resources for Landlords
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The California Department of Consumer Affairs describes a landlord, also called an owner, as a person or company that owns a rental unit that is rented or leased to a person or people to live or work in for a specific period of time. Most state governments and real estate organizations provide information for people who are landlords and those thinking about becoming landlords. - Each state has laws regarding the landlord/tenant relationship. Current and prospective landlords should check their state government website, especially that of the state attorney general and state statutes to find out the laws of their state. In Maryland, for example, people can go to the Maryland State Law Library website, which has information on being a landlord and information on both a landlord's responsibilities as well as a tenant's. In Connecticut people can find information on the state government's Judicial Branch web page. There is a Frequently Asked Questions page which leads to different publications regarding landlord/tenant law such as "Rights and Responsibilities of Landlords and Tenants, JDP-HM-31." Some of the responsibilities include a clean apartment when the tenant moves in, well-lit hallways and entryways and plumbing and heating in good working condition.
- Landlord.com lists many organizations that current landlords and those interested in becoming landlords should seek out. Some of the associations on the list include the American Association of Small Property Owners, the Institute of Real Estate Management and the National Association of Residential Property Owners. Also listed are associations that would be complementary to landlord associations, such as the Building Owners and Managers Association, the National Apartment Association and the National Association of Real Estate Brokers. In addition to education resources, industry information and advocacy, many of these organizations hold conferences and have online communities so that members can communicate with each other about challenges they face as landlords.
- These lawyers specialize in real estate law and are experts in the laws of the states where they practice. They can help landlords take the right steps in the eviction process, handle foreclosures on rental properties and give general or specific legal advice. A good real estate attorney can save a landlord a lot of money if court fees and lost rental income with well-crafted rental agreement forms and tenant notifications. The Mellor Law firm in California says that real estate disputes involve federal, state and local laws, so it is wise to get an experienced real estate attorney to make sure a person's rights are protected. It is helpful to have a law firm that deals with all aspects of real estate law as well as complementary laws like bankruptcy law, which can affect a landlord's specific real estate issue.
