Latest from The Brief

Someone's watching.

It happens to be you.

Thanks to technology, you can keep tabs on the rental house.

Anytime.  Anywhere.

How so?

Two words: security cameras.

It's like having a full-time bodyguard (minus the tattoos) watch over things.

But be smart about where you place them.

Anywhere ther...

Times are tough.

And most think it's getting tougher.

When a dollar ain't worth a dime, folks get creative (or desperate).

Some Tenants turn to Airbnb/VRBO to help pay the rent.

It's simple.

A Tenant rents your home to weary travelers.

Don't worry, it's only for the night.

Seems innocent enou...

Dirty money.

It's real.

You may even have some of your own (cocaine shows up on 80% of dollar bills!).

It's creepy, but whatever.

Money is money.

Who cares if your Tenant hands over a wad of cash that spent the last summer on a yacht in Miami.

You don't question where the rent comes from.

Wel...

You bought a new rental home.

It's in a great location.

It cash flows.

And the bathroom shiplap will be a hit with moneybag trendy Tenants.

There's only one problem.

A Tenant came with the house.

And the Seller's lease sucks.

He spent hours on Google before throwing in a few terms of his own....

You want to evict a Tenant.

He's got a month-to-month lease.

Rent's paid. And he hasn't broken the rules.

* nice fella, but it's time to go (don't ask me why)*

You served a 30-Day Notice. The clock is ticking.

T-minus 30 days, right?

It depends.

A 30-Day Notice ends the tenancy on the last da...

Your phone rings.

It's an unknown number.

Thinking it's a scam, you send it to voicemail.

Crap - a voicemail.

It's another Landlord wanting the inside scoop on your former Tenant.

Should they rent to this Tenant?

Did they damage the property?

Blah, blah, blah.

Wanting to help, you call the o...

Fair housing.

It's not sexy, but important.

You try not to discriminate in your rental business (if so, better lawyer up).

But fair housing rules aren't always clear.

Take kids, for example.

You're fine with *good* kids.

But you don't want a pack of little mustangs running wild and free throug...

Not all animals are pets.

And if it's not a pet, then "pet fees" don't apply.

You already *should* know that denying housing based on a disability is illegal.

And when the disability requires an animal, the rules change.

Service and emotional support animals (ESA) are not pets.

So you can't cha...

It's obvious.

Smoke alarms save lives.

Carbon dioxide detectors, too.

But did you know it's a crime if you don't install these at your rental property?

That's right.  Johnny Law can take you down.

Even if your place didn't burn to the ground. 

All because alarms and detectors weren't installed...

Good friends are hard to find.

And when you do, rooming together makes sense.  Sometimes.

Your Tenant wants to give it a shot.

She called to let you know her *new* BFF moves in this weekend.

Catch that?!?  She didn't ask you.  She told you.

Hmm...

Can your Tenant move someone in without your c...

Chasing money is bad business.

That's why smart Landlords collect security deposits.

It's the best way to get paid when a Tenant damages the property.

Well, unless it's "reasonable wear and tear" - whatever that means.

But if you keep the security deposit, you must send this notice.

And no late...

More money.  Less stress.

It's the best of both worlds.

As you Google brainstorm how Landlords can do this, don't forget:

Trading rent for labor is a bad idea.

It sounds like a win-win.

The Tenant takes *some* stress off your plate.

You discount the rent.

So what's the harm?  Well...

If the ...