Product Description

Whether you have one unit or one hundred, this book will give you the legal and practical information you need to comply with your state's laws, find and keep good tenants, and avoid legal trouble.

A Nolo bestseller, Every Landlord's Legal Guide shows you how to:

*screen and choose prospective tenants *write a legal rental agreement or lease *hire a property manager *deal with problem tenants *understand repair, maintenance and security responsibilities *avoid lawsuits *comply with laws regarding security deposits, privacy, discrimination, senior housing, habitability and much more

The completely revised 7th edition provides updated state-by-state legal charts on everything from security deposit rules to termination for nonpayment of rent. All forms provided as tear-outs and on CD-ROM.

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #106597 in Books
• Published on: 2004-10-20
• Original language: English
• Number of items: 1
• Binding: Paperback
• 576 pages

Amazon.com Review
This is a practical, well-organized manual for how to be a good landlord and avoid some of the pitfalls of owning rental property. Sample leases and rental agreements, information about liability, discrimination, repairs, and maintenance, and how to deal with problem tenants fairly and legally are all contained in here. Maybe if more landlords read this book, more tenants would feel like they and the owner are not intrinsic adversaries. Even though we get along quite well, and have for the last 22 years, I lent my copy to my landlord--for the other tenants' sakes!

From Library Journal
This new title is a thorough and pragmatic examination of the legal issues that confront landlords of residential real property. In 17 chapters, it covers such topics as rent, discrimination, working with property managers, landlord liability, tenants, privacy rights, and security deposits. The chapters summarize the law and explain it with true-to-life illustrations. Icons are used to point out a practical tip, a question that might need a lawyer's interpretation, or an instance in which a rent-control ordinance might apply. The book is liberally sprinkled with sample agreements, letters, and lists of specific state requirements with regard to landlord/tenant laws. Forms to help with rent applications, tenant references, security deposit itemization, and safety and maintenance updates, to name a few, appear in print at the end of the book and on an accompanying 3.5" DOS-based computer disk. Every Landlord's Legal Guide makes plain the important legal concepts and provides real guidance for landlords. Recommended for most public libraries.?Joan Pedzich, Harris, Beach & Wilcox, Rochester, N.Y.
Copyright 1996 Reed Business Information, Inc.

Review
It's a reliable legal guide.... This book provides as comprehensive and authoritative basic reference as you are going to find. -- The Real Estate Professional

On my scale of one to 10, it rates an off-the-chart 12. -- Robert Bruss, nationally syndicated real estate columnist

Customer Reviews

I couldn't recommend this book ENOUGH!
This book has helped through every step of buying my first investment property. It's like having your own professional standing over your shoulder, reminding you about every detail of every step. The section on insurance alone is completely priceless, pointing out that a landlord needs not just property loss coverage but also personal liability. And not just physical liability, but coverage of potential slander, libel, discrimination, unlawful eviction, invasion of privacy suits... And don't forget loss of rents! It's that kind of detail that maybe someone who's done this before would call 'basic.' But I admit: I am no pro, yet when I called an insurance agent and explained what I wanted coverage for, he said to me,

Exactly what I was looking for. Encompassing, but not vague.
Very Good. The author has done a great job of discussing many legal pitfalls of rental property, and how to avoid them. I would highly recommend this book to anyone interested in becoming a landlord. The book provides everything from preventive measures when screening prospective tenants, to keeping good tenants, to removing poor tenants. It explores the many rights and responsibilities you have as a landlord. Explinations of laws are written in a no nonsence format. A Must Have.

I couldn't recommend this book ENOUGH!!!
This book has helped through every step of buying my first investment property. It's like having your own professional standing over your shoulder, reminding you about every detail of every step. The section on insurance alone is completely priceless, pointing out that a landlord needs not just property loss coverage but also personal liability. And not just physical liability, but coverage of potential slander, libel, discrimination, unlawful eviction, invasion of privacy suits... And don't forget loss of rents! It's that kind of detail that maybe someone who's done this before would call 'basic.' But I admit: I am no pro, yet when I called an insurance agent and explained what I wanted coverage for, he said to me, "Um, you've done this before, haven't you?" Thank you, nolo!