Houston Property Management Tips

It often seems that a property owner does not have any rights and the tenants call all the shots, the courts only rule in favor of the tenant, and the attorneys end up with all the money. Just look at the multi-million dollar lawsuits that have happened regarding mold, lead-based paint, Fair Housing, and more. In fact, we do our best to ...

New Texas Law Regarding Smoke Alarms A new law was passed this last legislative session regarding the number and placement of smoke alarms in rental properties in Texas. In short the law attempted to make the requirements consistent throughout the state. It requires at least one smoke alarm to be placed in each bedroom. In addition, i...

Over the years, courts have made many rulings based on the Uniform Residential Landlord and Tenant Act, URLTA. When faced with a difficult case between Landlord and Tenant, a judge will often consult the fine points of this Act before rendering a decision. Important Landlord/Tenant Law often stems from these judgments. A number of st...

Pests can be a problem any time during the year and are a common occurrence in the property management industry. If you check the dictionary, there are varying definitions for pests - here are three common ones. An insect or other small animal that harms or destroys garden plants, trees, etc. An annoying or troublesome person, ...

There have been incredible weather events happening all other the world - earthquakes and tsunamis in Japan, tornadoes throughout many states, and flooding along the Mississippi to name a few. Insurance is a necessity for investment property. You pay with the hope that you will never have to use it for unforseen events. With all the diff...

Fair Housing law defines retaliation as an act of harm by the owner, manager, or agent against a resident or applicant because that resident or applicant has asserted their fair housing rights. This important legislation protects the right of the applicant, resident, prospective homebuyer, or loan seeker to file a discrimination case, or...

What IS a Rental Emergency? It is important to understand what a rental emergency is. Depending on whose perspective it is, whether it can be owner, tenant, vendor, or property manager, it can mean different things when it happens. The definition from Wikipedia is An emergency is a situation that poses an immediate risk to he...

Carbon monoxide is another area of risk management that has been creating new laws in many states. Currently, at least twenty-five (25) states have legislation on carbon monoxide detectors requirements. Please note that various states have different requirement in their laws. Federal agencies are working on legislation to encourage all s...

It is natural to want to obtain the highest rent possible when your property is vacant. A long vacancy can cause frustration, anxiety, and anger. However, holding out for more money can be more costly than you think. When this situation occurs, it is better to use a mathematical approach. Write down the expenditures for your investmen...

No investor wants to hear that there is a possible or definite lawsuit to defend. Although there are times you cannot avoid legal actions, most of the time, property owners can by being proactive. Here are seven positive steps to follow to reduce your risk. Never ignore necessary repairs. Habitability is at the heart of landlord/ten...