All Forum Posts by: Rob B.

Sorry to hear you're dealing with this situation. Just be happy they're not taking the ESA approach with you. The Fair Housing Act states that tenants with emotional support animals cannot be charged extra fees for having their support animals. Based on FHA, if she's claiming the dog as an ESA you must allow the dog, even if you have a no-pet policy, and you can't charge extra pet rent, pet fee, or pet deposit.

That said I know a lot of landlords who have run into issues with the ESA process; there's a difference between extra fees and cost to cover destruction of property, and as far as breeds, some insurance companies are a bit more reluctant to insure the property if certain breeds are residing there. I'd definitely lean on legal counsel locally to get a better idea of what options you have but for now, stick to your rules as they currently are.

Hi Tim, there are definitely a lot of helpful tools out there; ***a lot of people use Zelle or Venmo, but they’re not designed specifically for rent collection. Some would suggest TenantCloud, Tellius or other apps which allow you to process rent collection; but, there is an option out there which allows you to collect rent much quicker than those others but still provides other rental management tools you might find valuable (again, not to knock Cozy or these other tools like Zillow rental manager), but you can easily go with an option that will help you keep track of who paid what and on which date with a tool that is reliable and fast. It definitely can help to make the process as painless as possible and more efficient for both parties (landlord + tenant), and also offers digital leases. Again, you may run into transfer limits with some of those other apps which aren't necessarily designed for the purpose of rent collection but the right landlord software can make this seamless for you. I would love to learn about any additional needs; definitely helps to keep landlord solution providers on their toes!

Don't mean to sound like an echo in a room, but as others above have noted, could take it to small claims court -- and there are great resources already mentioned above as for reporting those non-payments. Moving forward might be worth considering a prop software that also gives you the ability to report their positive on-time payments, or late payments to the major credit bureaus; just another positive reinforcement/added incentive to get them to make those payments on time while on an active lease with you).

Hi Jeffrey, happy to hear you're going through the process of deciding which platform to use to manage your properties. As others have noted above, there are definitely a lot of helpful tools out there. I will say, it could be worth considering a shot at an actual software solution built for DIY landlords (1 - 15 units) that helps you to automate some of this (ie. compared to other tools, one that helps you to actually build a single listing and syndicates it to 10+ major listing sites, but also allows you to schedule showings, provides you with super thorough tenant screening options, online digital leases which can be customized and help you by breaking out those fees, automated maintenance tracking, and fast rent collection which also offers your tenants the ability to report their positive on-time payments to the major credit bureaus; just another positive reinforcement/added incentive to get them to make those payments on time). I hope that helps! @Jeffrey Townsend

Just from the sound of it, really comes down to you being able to make those fixes; definitely don't want the tenant suing you, especially if habitability comes into play. This can lead to you being tied up in litigation and probably without a tenant.

Hi Tait! I will say it is great that you're going through the process of deciding on which platform to use to list and then manage your properties. As others have noted above, there are definitely a lot of helpful tools out there. I will say, it could be worth considering a shot at an actual software solution built for DIY landlords (1 - 15 units) that helps you to automate some of this (ie. compared to other tools, one that helps you to actually build a single listing and syndicates it to 10+ major listing sites, but also allows you to schedule showings, provides you with super thorough tenant screening options, online digital leases which can be customized and help you by breaking out those fees, automated maintenance tracking, and fast rent collection which also offers your tenants the ability to report their positive on-time payments to the major credit bureaus; just another positive reinforcement/added incentive to get them to make those payments on time). I hope that helps! @Tait Sougstad

This is my first time hearing about this but definitely an interesting business model, that's for sure. I'll defer to others but the implications are tremendous; going to open up opportunities to rent for a lotttt of renters. 

I'm of a similar notion as Jason; replace it when it is time to replace it. Now, I definitely understand the need to feel more comfortable with the direction you take for your property, so it may make sense to have someone come out and provide a quote. Still, there is a lot of potential for a roof to last a lot longer. That said you really have to consider the location/area the property is located in as well (ie. extreme heat, severe thunderstorm season, heavy windfall, etc). 

Since it sounds like you do have a clause that requires them to have renters insurance, they should be good to go -- this really is on the tenant to make sure that they follow up with their insurance company for their claim; now, I will say (to Theresa and John's point), if the dryer caught fire and it can be proven that it was a technical malfunction, then that's a whole different situation. But it is possible that the fire happened due to user error (ie. caught fire because the tenant wasn't cleaning out the lent traps correctly, or put something in the dryer that a dryer probably shouldn't be used for). 

Hi Kory! I will say it is great that you're going through the process of deciding on which platform to use to list and then manage your properties. As others have noted above, there are definitely a lot of helpful tools out there. I will say, it could be worth considering a shot at an actual software solution built for DIY landlords (1 - 15 units) that helps you to automate some of this (ie. compared to other tools, one that helps you to actually build a single listing and syndicates it to 10+ major listing sites, but also allows you to schedule showings, provides you with super thorough tenant screening options, online digital leases which can be customized and help you by breaking out those fees, automated maintenance tracking, and fast rent collection which also offers your tenants the ability to report their positive on-time payments to the major credit bureaus; just another positive reinforcement/added incentive to get them to make those payments on time). I hope that helps!