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Landlord Newsletter September 25, 2012










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The LPA Newsletter September 25, 2012

Dear Fellow Landlord,

In this newsletter:

  • Returning Security
  • Free Form Lease Addendum
  • Ask the Attorney, Real Estate Attorney, John Reno
  • Quotes for Success

Please e-mail us if you have any questions or would like to add or share any material / information. Have a great month and an even more successful year ahead.
John Nuzzolese
John@theLPA.com

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Landlord Do's & Don'ts
Returning the Security Deposit

What The LPA says you should do and shouldn't do:

  • DO wait until the tenant has moved completely out before returning any deposit money.
  • DON'T have a "walkthrough" with the tenant before moveout to determine the condition of the rental. Tenants like to do this to reassure themselves that they will get all their security deposit back. Instead of calling it a "walk-through", I like to call it the "AMBUSH" because that's really how it is when you are put on the spot. The tenant is still in possession of the rental and is insisting on getting the full deposit back.

  • DO Obtain the tenant's forwarding address to send any security refunds or bills.
  • DON'T allow the tenant to leave without first giving you a forwarding address. We usually obtain this with the Tenant's Notice to Vacate form.

  • DO Prepare a Security Settlement Statement to send to the tenant as soon as you've assessed the condition of the property and charges against the security deposit.
  • DON'T wait until the tenant calls you demanding the return of the security deposit before sending your prepared settlement package.

  • DO be prepared with your Security Settlement Challenge Crusher letter in case the tenant wants to try to persue the deposit money.
  • DON'T feel you have to keep explaining the findings to a tenant who doesn't agree with the written settlement.

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    LPA FREE DOWNLOAD
    Free Lease Addendum Form

    Need to Add Additional Terms to Your Lease Agreement?

    Click for More Essential Forms


    to Essential landlord rental forms page to order A Lease Addendum form can be used for making additional information or clauses a part of the lease.

    When meeting with the tenants to do a lease signing, we often think of certain rules or clauses we'd like to add into the lease agreement. Most leases and rental agreements do not provide room for extra lease clauses (unless you are using The LPA Lease Agreement in word processor format)

    The lease addendum form can easily be filled in at the time of lease signing with topics that are important to you that may not be already included in the lease agreement form. It's a handy form to have in your folder if the need arises to add any special clauses to your lease. (LPA members: MS Word and PDF fill-in versions available in Essential Forms!)

    .

    FREE DOWNLOAD

    Lease Addendum Form




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    Ask the Attorney

    The Landlord Protection AgencyThe Landlord Protection Agency® presents John Reno, Esq., a highly experienced Landlord - Tenant attorney based on Long Island, NY.

    John Reno also does Mortgage Loan Modifications (Nationwide).
    (Mention The LPA for a 10% discount!)

    Dear Mr. Reno:
    I had a month-to-month lease with a tenant in North Carolina. They gave me less than 30 days notice of their move-out date, but I had collected the last month's rent up front. They moved out on the 15th, I owe them some pro-rated rent from that last month. Can I pro-rate it based on the 30 days notice that our lease stated? Or must I pro-rate it based on when they actually moved out?

    PS. They are not getting any security deposit back based on the poor condition that they left the property. Can I use any of that last-month's rent toward damages?
    Thank you for your time.
    Katherine Ulrich, North Carolina
    LPA member

    A: You're really under no obligation to prorate it. If they left in the middle of the month with less than 30 days notice- You can keep it all. So if you want to refund some to be a nice guy, fine. But don't use the security. That's for damages.

    If you have a landlord tenant problem you'd like to ask a question about, please feel free to e-mail me your question.
    Submit a landlord / tenant question for Mr. Reno
    Please try to keep your questions as short and to the point as possible.

    Read more from John Reno, Eviction Attorney



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    FREE Tenant Credit Reporting
    (LPA Members Only)

    Tenant Reporting

    Have you ever been beaten by a tenant on the rent? Most of us have and unfortunately, it is one of the costs of doing business as a landlord.
    On the brighter side, remedies are available for many. If you have documented your tenancy with the proper paperwork including a rental application, lease agreement, late notices, etc., you may have a chance of collecting.

    Credit bureau reporting is an option in which many modern landlords are beginning to participate....

    Click here for the full article


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    Landlord Tip:

    Have proof you have sent written notices.
    I have on many occasions seen tenants deny they received written notices from the landlord. One of the best ways to prove a notice was sent by Certified Mail is to include the Certified Mail Article # on the document and also send a copy by regular mail, and also keep a copy for yourself. Having the article # on the document shows that the notice you sent was the same as the notice you say you sent.
    Just pick up a pile of certified mail postcards and receipt slips so you can prepare them before going to the post office. - The LPA


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    Landlord Success Quotes


    eleanor roosevelt quotes Yogi Berra quotes Thomas Edison quotes Benjamin Franklin success quotes



    "It is better to have NO tenant than it is to have a bad tenant." - John Nuzzolese

    "Success is often achieved by those who don’t know that failure is inevitable." – Coco Chanel

    "I would not want to be a politician... Let me tell you this: If I was campaigning, and I go against my opponent and he started attacking my character, and I leap over the table and choke him unconscious, would that help my campaign?" - Chuck Norris

    "Losers live in the past. Winners learn from the past and enjoy working in the present toward the future." - Denis Waitley

    "How much did your last tenant problem cost you? I expect your LPA Membership and arsenal of Essential Landlord Forms to save you from countless pitfalls and thousands of dollars on tenant related expenses in the coming years!" - John Nuzzolese




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    *Your Membership Expired? No Problem!



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    LPA Members, Interested in past LPA Newsletters? Feel free to view the LPA Newsletter Archive

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