As a Roseville landlord, you’re accountable to your tenants and to the city, state, and federal laws that govern rental properties. You’re accountable to the Fair Housing Act and you’re accountable for understanding security deposit laws. You’re required to maintain a safe and habitable home and to all the terms and responsibilities in your lease agreement.
Lots of landlords are very good at holding tenants accountable. They want their rent paid on time and their pet policies followed.
Are you holding yourself accountable, too?
Here’s how to do it.
Know What You’re Responsible for as a Landlord
You are accountable for protecting your property. You need to maintain it, update it, and keep it safe and habitable for your tenants. Once you have a tenant move in, your accountability is to both the tenant and the property.
As the property owner, your lease agreement will reflect what you are meant to provide. Typically, that will include:
- Emergency and routine repairs
- Smoke detectors and carbon monoxide detectors
- Pest control
- Windows and doors that easily open, close, and lock
- Proper lighting
- Handrails in stairwells
- Seasonal and preventative maintenance
This is not an exhaustive list, but it does represent the types of things you need to be accountable for in your rental property. You can expect your tenants to change the air filters, for example, but maintaining the HVAC unit is up to you.
Roseville, California Legal Requirements
California isn’t exactly known for its relaxed tenant protections and landlord-friendly laws. It actually has some of the most comprehensive rules about rent control and eviction in the entire country. You’ll need to know whether your property is subject to rent control. You need to understand the tenants of just cause evictions and you have to be prepared to return a security deposit in time.
Do you know the difference between a service animal and a companion animal?
You are accountable for understanding all of the state, local, and federal laws that apply to your property. For example, you will find yourself in a lot of legal trouble if you try to say you aren’t accepting applications from Section 8 tenants. You need to understand when and if you have the right to enter the property and what you have to disclose in terms of mold and lead paint.
Things can get complicated quickly. Get to know the laws, or work with a Roseville property manager who will keep you in compliance.
Financial Accountability and Your Roseville Rental Property
You should be treating your rental property like a business. That means you’re accountable for its financial performance. You’ll have to pay the mortgage and to do that, you’ll need to collect rent on time every month. If utilities are included in the amount you’re charging for rent, you’ll have to pay those as well.
Landlord insurance is important. You’re required to provide proof of insurance when you’re financing a rental property, and you also need the protection in case something happens and you need to repair or replace your property. You need to protect yourself with adequate liability coverage.
Owning a Roseville rental property provides a lot of benefits, most of them financial. But, you have to keep yourself above board and accountable to your tenants, your lease, and the laws.
If you’re not sure what this means for you and you can’t say for certain that you’re able to hold yourself accountable, a Roseville property management partner can help. Contact us at Action Properties.
