Adverse Action Notices: When Landlords Must Send One
What an FCRA adverse action notice is, when a landlord must send one, what it must say, and how to handle the common mistakes small landlords make.
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Screening & Leasing
Find good tenants and write leases that protect you.
How to Screen Tenants the Right Way (and Stay Legal)
A step-by-step tenant screening process for small landlords: criteria, credit and background checks, references, and the fair housing rules to follow.
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How to Show a Rental Property: A Safe, Efficient Walkthrough
Practical steps for showing a rental unit: scheduling, safety, open houses vs private tours, what to say, and what to avoid under fair housing law.
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How to Write a Rental Listing That Fills Fast and Stays Fair
Write a rental listing that attracts qualified applicants, includes the right details and photos, and avoids wording that can create fair housing problems.
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Lease Essentials: 15 Clauses Every Landlord Should Include
The key clauses for a residential lease: rent terms, deposits, maintenance, entry, pets, subletting, and more, plus tips for using a state-specific form.
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Lease Renewal vs. Month-to-Month: Which to Offer Your Tenant
How lease renewals and month-to-month tenancies work, the pros and cons of each, when to send renewal offers, and what to check under your state's rules.
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Pet Policies and Pet Deposits for Landlords
Set a clear pet policy, choose between pet deposits, fees, and pet rent, and handle assistance animals correctly under fair housing rules.
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The Rental Application Process: From Inquiry to Signed Lease
Walk through every stage of the rental application process, from first inquiry to lease signing, with a timeline, fees, and a consistent paper trail.
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Roommates and Co-Signers: How to Handle Them as a Landlord
How joint leases, roommate changes, and co-signers or guarantors work for landlords, including screening, liability, and the paperwork to use.
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Tenant Background and Credit Checks: What to Run and How
Learn what tenant background and credit checks cover, how to read the results, and how to follow FCRA, fair housing, and adverse action rules.
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