Admin

Protect Your Landlords From Being Sued

By
Real Estate Agent with RE/MAX 1st Class 0542725
As a Realtor, I get so many pieces of marketing material by mail and through email, that I often find myself ignoring them.  Today, I actually read one of the emails from a local Realtors' association, and I actually found a helpful reminder regarding landlords' consideration of tenant applications. 
 
In Texas, the property code allows owners seven days to respond to a rental application.  After seven days, the application is deemed rejected.  Landlords are also required to supply applicants with tenant-selection criteria, and if they fails to do so, is required to refund the application fees of any rejected tenants. 
 
In my experience, many landlords and agents have let these requirements fall by the wayside.  It is important to remember that these requirements are meant to protect both tenants and landlords and help keep landlords accountable.  I for one, am going to help my landlord clients develop specific tenant-selection criteria and will encourage them to keep applicants informed of the criteria.
Posted by

 

 

 

  
Brian Worrell - GRI, CNE
Bayou Properties Realty  |   The Worrell Team, Realtors
Cell  281-948-7042  |  Fax  832-514-7029  |  www.BrianWorrell.com

 

2015 Top 20 Rising Star of Real Estate Under 40 by HAR
    (Awarded for excellence in Sales, Leadership, and Community Service)
 
Consistent Multi-Million Dollar Top Producer
2011-2016 FIVE STAR Real Estate Professional as listed in Texas Monthly Magazine 
 

 


Do you know anyone who needs help buying or selling real estate?

 

 

© 2004 - 2016 Brian Worrell Team, Realtors in League City and Clear Lake, TX - 281-948-7042. All Rights Reserved. LeagueCityBlog.com.  Bayou Properties Realty.

Doug Rogers
RE/MAX Coastal Properties - Destin, FL
Your Real Estate Resource!

Nice reminder. When I tell folks all that is involved with property management the notion of an "easy rent check" each month is quickly erased.

Sep 16, 2011 08:38 AM
Wallace S. Gibson, CPM
Gibson Management Group, Ltd. - Charlottesville, VA
LandlordWhisperer

....OR have them hire a professional property manager with the RESOURCES to properly screen applicants in a FAST and EFFICIENT manner and notify them of their approval with the proper notice and collection of move-in monies.

Sep 16, 2011 01:09 PM
League City, TX - Worrell Team, REALTORS, GRI, CNE
RE/MAX 1st Class - League City, TX

Doug and Wallace, Nothing worth doing will come easy.  Sometimes we try to hard for something that's not worth it... But, we learn from our mistakes...  A good property management group is hard to find in my area.  I finally found one that is pretty darn good.  There is one big PM group in my area that's terrible, and nobody can really hold them accountable.  Thanks for the comments!!  Cheers....

Sep 16, 2011 05:01 PM
Mark Delgado
houses for rent, Solano County & Glen Cove - Benicia, CA
Benicia and Vallejo, Property Management, rental h
Brian, I can understand your quandary. You're in a tough position because even though we all get the same State Licenses, property management really is a distinct specialty that cannot be done casually, if it is to be done correctly. Good luck.
Sep 16, 2011 05:27 PM
League City, TX - Worrell Team, REALTORS, GRI, CNE
RE/MAX 1st Class - League City, TX

Mark, Indeed.  As a Realtor witnessing this one PM company in particular, it pains me to see them acting neither in the landlord's nor the tenant's best interest.  They in it purely for themselves.  Don't they have fiduciary duties that separate them from just a regular for profit company??  Mark, thanks for the comments!  Cheers...

Brian

Sep 16, 2011 05:34 PM
Leslie Prest
Leslie Prest, Prest Realty, Sales and Rentals in Payson, AZ - Payson, AZ
Owner, Assoc. Broker, Prest Realty, Payson,

Wow! Things vary from state to state. We practise in AZ.

Sep 20, 2011 09:52 AM