Several responsibilities come with being a landlord, so it’s crucial to understand what you can and cannot do as a property owner. This blog will cover six things that landlords are not allowed to do as well as how property management software can help ensure compliance.
Landlords: Discrimination against tenants.
It is against the law for a landlord to exclude prospective renters based on their race, religion, gender, sexual orientation, disability, or family situation. Any type of discrimination is not only unethical but also prohibited by law. Landlords must abide by fair housing regulations and make sure that all prospective tenants have an equal chance to rent their properties to avoid discrimination.
By giving landlords tools to track and record tenant applications and screenings, property management software can help them maintain compliance. Landlords can make sure they are evaluating and choosing tenants based on their qualifications rather than their qualities by using the software.
Enter a rental property without proper notice.
Landlords are not allowed to access rented properties without notifying the tenant. Most states require landlords to give at least 24 hours’ notice before entering the premises unless an emergency arises. Legal problems and damages can emerge from improper notice.
Property management software can assist landlords in remaining in compliance by offering a system for scheduling property inspections and maintenance. With the help of the software, landlords can connect with their tenants, provide them with proper notice, and guarantee that they are visiting the rental property when the tenant is available.
Top 10 Real Estate Software in Dubai, UAE 2023
Withhold security deposits without proper cause.
Landlords can deduct money from a tenant’s security deposit after they vacate to cover damages or overdue rent. But they cannot keep a security deposit without a valid reason. The tenant can file a lawsuit if a landlord withholds a security deposit without cause.
Property management software can help landlords track damages and deductions from the security deposit. With the help of the system, landlords can ensure they are only withholding the necessary portion of the security deposit and can clearly explain to tenants why they withheld their deposit.
Violate lease agreements.
The lease agreements that landlords enter into with their tenants must be complied with. Landlords who break the lease agreement are legally accountable. Both parties should sign the lease agreement, which should contain information like the dates by which the rent is due, any late fines, and the lease terms.
By giving landlords tools to establish and manage lease agreements, property management software can help them maintain compliance. Landlords can use the software to guarantee that lease agreements are enforceable and in compliance with the law.
Evict tenants without good reason.
Without a valid reason, landlords cannot evict tenants. A landlord can face legal repercussions if they attempt to evict a tenant without justification. The right reasons could be non-payment of rent, breaking the conditions of the lease, or engaging in illegal activity on the property.
Property management software gives access to landlords to track legal activities and violations by tenants. With the real estate software, landlords may ensure that while evicting tenants, they are doing it in compliance with legal requirements.
Ignore tenant requests for repairs
Landlords are in charge of maintenance and responding to tenant requests for repairs on their rental properties. Ignoring a tenant’s request for repairs can lead to problems with the law and financial loss. Landlords must guarantee that their rental units are secure and livable by swiftly attending to maintenance concerns.
Landlords can make sure that they are quickly responding to tenant inquiries and taking care of issues before they turn into significant problems with the help of the software.
How to Resolve Tenant/Landlords Disputes?
There will always be disagreements that arise from time to time. The best course of action for a landlord is to resolve any disputes peacefully and professionally. People now spend more time at home than they did a few years ago. It’s not surprising that disputes between neighbors are becoming more common. However, there has also been a rise in cooperative approaches to problem-solving.
The Correct Way to Handle Evictions
While ideally, you won’t need it, every landlord should be aware of the basics of managing an eviction. Be aware that different states and counties have different eviction policies.
There are numerous reasons why a landlord would decide to start the eviction process with a tenant. Unpaid rent is, of course, the most common.
Drug dealing or other criminal behavior, hoarding, substantial property damage, or the tenant being incarcerated and unable to care for the property are additional scenarios that frequently result in eviction.
Every time a tenant is evicted, the landlord is required to give them a formal termination notice outlining the reason(s) for the eviction. The landlord is free to file a lawsuit against the tenant if they fail to communicate, pay the rent on time, or otherwise behave differently.
To Sum up
To sum it up, having a property means having a lot of responsibilities. Therefore it’s important to understand what you can and cannot do. By giving landlords the ability to manage lease agreements, tenant requests, maintenance, and documents, property management software may help them stay in compliance. Landlords can ensure they are abiding by the law and offering livable rental properties by employing property management software.