5 Ways Landlords (Unknowingly) Break the Law — And How to Get Out of Hot Water
New landlords are no stranger to slip-ups and mishaps. After all, no one is perfect. However, there are certain actions that some landlords think are fine — but are actually illegal in the state of Nevada.
It’s important that all landlords and property managers comply with rental property laws to help protect all parties involved.
Are You Breaking the Law?
If you’re new to the game, here are 5 things you may be doing that break the law — and could be putting your rental investment in jeopardy.
- Dropping in unannounced. Tenants have the right to enjoy their privacy. If a landlord needs to stop by for routine inspections, maintenance, or repairs, they must usually offer at least 24-hours notice. A landlord must also seek a tenant’s consent to enter because they’ve surrendered possession of the premises over to the renter upon signing the rental agreement. If a tenant happens to be home, they may waive their right to get advance notice, but property managers should not just use their keys to stop by at any time and without prior warning.
- Asking for certain personal information during the application process. Landlords can qualify tenants based upon their income, credit history, and job status — but they aren’t allowed to ask about personal matters. For instance, it’s not legal to fish for information about religion or place of origin, even in personal conversations.
- Increasing the rent in the middle of the lease. Property managers reserve the right to increase the rent with a new lease or renewal. At the same time, they may not increase rent in the middle of the lease term.
- Evicting renters because of a sale: Property owners usually reserve the right to sell a property whenever they choose. However, this sales transaction can’t violate the tenant’s lease. Sellers have to make the sure the new owners will keep tenants in place until their lease ends or find some way to buy the tenants out of their lease.
- Charging too much for a rental deposit: In Nevada, Landlords can charge a maximum of three months’ rent for a security deposit.
When in Doubt, Hire a Property Management Company
Good landlord practices are a crucial element of a rental business. Not only does compliance protect renters, it also protects managers and owners against expensive penalties, potential liability, and a bad reputation. If you feel unsure about how you’re handling your landlord responsibilities, consider hiring a property management company. SMART is a well-established Las Vegas property management company that is committed to full-service resident management. No matter the size of your property, SMART takes the burden of landlording off owners by offering:
- Thorough Background Checks
- Extensive Tenant Screening
- On-Time ACH Owner Distributions
- Quick Response to Maintenance
Contact us today to find out what SMART can do for you.
