Renting & Tenants
Leases, rent, screening, and tenant relationships.
Fair Housing Act — What Landlords Cannot Ask
The Fair Housing Act prohibits questions about race, religion, familial status, disability, and more. Certain "innocent" questions have gotten landlords into six-figure lawsuits.
How to Write an Eviction Notice
An eviction notice must state the reason, the required cure period, and consequences of non-compliance — using the wrong form or wrong wording restarts the entire process.
Emergency vs Non-Emergency Repairs
Emergency repairs (no heat in winter, flooding, gas leak) require same-day response. Non-emergency repairs typically get 3-7 days. Getting the category wrong costs money either way.
How to Screen a Tenant Without a Screening Service
You don't need a paid screening service to vet a tenant. A few direct calls — pay stubs, prior landlords, current employer, public eviction records — cover most of the same ground.
Rentometer vs Zillow Rent Estimate — Which Is Right?
Rentometer and Zillow's Rent Zestimate give different numbers because they use different data — comps vs. algorithm. Cross-check both, adjust locally.
How to Price a Rental in 2026 (5 Steps)
Wrong rent price costs money either way — vacancy above market, lost income below. The 5-step process starts with comps and ends with condition adjustments.
What Can Landlords Legally Ask on a Rental Application?
Income, employment, rental history, and credit — with consent — are fair game. Anything touching protected classes is off-limits. The rule: same criteria for every applicant.
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