What is covered under landlord-tenant law? What can a landlord charge you for? What about a deposit? Are you a landlord having trouble with your tenants? Do you want know how to get into the landlord business? Look here for answers to these questions and more in the articles, columns, blog posts, radio shows and videos.
Can You Break a Lease During the COVID-19 Pandemic?
Can you break a lease during COVID-19? This reader’s grandson rented an apartment near campus but fall classes are being held online. Q: In January, my grandson and three of his friends agreed to rent a 4-bedroom apartment near the campus starting in August, when school was supposed to resume. They signed the lease in [...]
Can My Landlord Terminate My Lease During COVID-19?
Can my landlord terminate my lease during COVID-19? This reader wants to know if it’s possible and how much notice they’ll be given. Q: If you rent on a month-to-month basis, can the owner terminate the lease during the COVID-19 pandemic? And, if the landlord does notify a tenant that the landlord elects to terminate [...]
Are You Ever Too Old to Buy Your First Home?
Are you ever too old to buy your first home? Of course not! Just make sure you understand what’s required of you as a homeowner and a real estate investor before you buy. Q: I am almost 61 years old and single. I moved to Baltimore and would like to buy a small two-flat to [...]
What to do When You Have Home Buyers’ Remorse
What to do when you have home buyers remorse. Should you go ahead and sell the home or consider being a landlord? Q: Four years ago, as a first-time homeowner, I bought a single family home in the D.C. metro area. I hate to admit this, but I failed at the due diligence portion of [...]
Is Now the Right Time to Sell Your Rental Property?
Is now the right time to sell your rental property? We may be in a seller’s market, but that doesn’t mean you’ll get the most bang for your rental property buck. Q: As always, you give us a lot of good real estate information in your columns. Here's a question regarding my rental home in [...]
Landlord Rights When a Tenant Breaks the Lease
Landlord rights when a tenant breaks the lease vary based on the wording of the lease agreement and state regulations. Here’s what you need to know. Q: I have tenants who signed a six-month lease last month. A few days after they signed, they informed me that they just bought a house, and would like [...]
Handling Tax Issues With A Rent-to-Own Home
Handling tax issues with a rent-to-own home can cause some tension between the landlord and tenant. You’ll want to have all the details before you make your next move. Q: I’ve been renting-to-own a home for a little over a year now. The owner of the home told me he would continue to pay the [...]
Should I Outsource To A Property Management Company?
Should I outsource to a property management company? A lot of hard work goes into being a landlord, sometimes it's smarter to outsource property management. Q: I am planning to buy a four-plex and I was planning on using an on-call handyman instead of property management which is typically expensive. Since this is my first [...]
Breaking An Apartment Lease: Is It Legal?
When you sign an apartment lease, you agree to uphold the terms of that document. Some municipalities have landlord-tenant ordinances that give additional rights to tenants, but a tenant can't decide to terminate their lease without taking the proper steps to do so. Q: I have a small question, I'm from Cleveland, Ohio. I had [...]
What Makes A Rental Property ‘Long-Term?’
Is there a good way to define a rental unit as long-term or temporary? As this correspondent finds, there can be several different definitions. Q: This question may seem odd, it has been hard for me to research it and I hope you can help. I am trying to determine a realistic and reasonable definition [...]