The Landlord Protection Agency  
Main Menu, Landlord Protection Agency homepage Membership With The Landlord Protection Agency Free Landlord Services Member Services  

Landlord Newsletter June 2007

The LPA Newsletter
June 2007

Dear Fellow Landlord,

I hope this newsletter finds you well. Regardless of what the real estate market is doing, one thing remains constant: People still need decent rentals, even though we landlords have to look more carefully for qualified tenants. Careful credit screening is very important. Preparing your rental agreement with good clauses for your protection is also important.

In this newsletter:

  • Free Download: I'd like to introduce a brand new LPA Essential Form,
    No Smoking Notice and Reminder. I hope you find it helpful in situations where you want to curb smoking in your rentals.
  • My article, Can I Run a Credit Report to Locate my Tenant who Owes me Money?
  • Landlord Tip: ID your tenants!
  • Recent Tenant Excuses
  • Recent Success Quotes
  • I almost forgot. We're doubling your affiliate commissions to 20% so you can earn more money by referring people to theLPA. (See Affiliates link below)

    Please e-mail us if you have any questions or would like to add or share any material / information. Have a great June.
    John Nuzzolese
    John@theLPA.com




    ***********************************************
    Are Your Tenants Smoking in your Non - Smoking Rental?

    No Smoking Notice and Reminder

    No Smoking!It happens all the time. People say they don't smoke when they really do. How often have you heard, "Yes, I smoke a little, but not inside the house."

    REALLY?? A smoker smokes and you will find it very hard to control where your smoking tenant will light up. So, if you prefer No Smoking in your rental, make sure you are very clear on that in your lease agreement. (The LPA Lease has a No Smoking clause that can be left in place or stricken if you want to accept a smoking tenant.)

    The No Smoking Notice and Reminder form can be used to inform tenants that they are in violation of their No Smoking clause in the lease agreement. It can also be used a new Notice to initiate a new No Smoking rule for your rental. As with any official written notice, just remember to give the proper notice period of time as your lease or state requires for making changes in the rental agreement.

    The notice can make your smoking rules and requirements a part of your existing lease or a handy reminder of your "No Smoking" clause in your The LPA Lease.

    No SmokingNo Smoking Notice and Reminder

    (You can download this form FREE till June 20, 2007)




    ***********************************************

    Can I Run a Credit Report to Locate my Tenant who Owes me Money?

    By John Nuzzolese

    A common misconception landlords have is that they can run a credit report on a tenant if they have the tenant’s social security number. You must have the applicant’s written authorization explicitly for running a credit report. It is illegal to pull a credit report without the tenant's written authorization according to the FCRA (Fair Credit Reporting Act). There could be very serious ramifications if you order credit reports without written authorization.

    So, what if you have written authorization on your tenant's rental application to run a credit check?

    As you know, it is illegal to pull a credit report on a rental applicant without his or her expressed written authorization. The same is true for banks and credit card companies, only they have you sign an authorization that allows them to continue to check your credit report.

    Most lending institutions run credit reports from time to time on their borrowers for various reasons. Sometimes, to determine eligibility for credit line increases or account renewals, and also to track down delinquent debtors.

    Why can't landlords do the same thing? They can, but most landlords are not legally prepared to do it.

    Here is the clause to insert into your LPA Rental Application, so that if in the future you have to chase down a tenant by checking his credit report for a forwarding address or employer.

    Just copy and paste the above updated clause into your LPA Rental Application over the original.

    Even with the permission to run ongoing credit reports on your tenant, the you should keep in mind that each report you pull will show up on the credit report as an inquiry. Excessive inquiries on a credit report are harmful to the subject's credit rating. The landlord must be responsible with this privilege which is only intended to protect the landlord in collection or renewal evaluation circumstances.

    Disclaimer: State and local laws may vary, so The LPA recommends you seek an attorney's advice before ordering additional credit reports on tenants.


    ***********************************************

    The LPA's Newest Credit Report Affiliate

    tenant screening credit reports, credit reporting form Experian, TransUnion, Equifax credit bureaus
    FREE SIGNUP ... Instant Online Credit Reports ... Criminal Reports ...
    NO ONSITE INSPECTION for Private Landlords ... Low Prices

    For more information Click Here



    ***********************************************

    Landlord Tip:

    When screening an applicant, ask for a copy of a picture ID or drivers license. Make sure the person in front of you is the same person on the application and credit report.


    ***********************************************

    Tenant Excuses


    "My mom's not here! Come back tomorrow!" Dude! I know this is an excuse because I get the same thing each month about 5 times. - Jeff S, CA

    "I can't meet you to pay rent because I have no way to get there because I lost my job because my wife jumped out of my tow truck doing 30MPH two weeks ago and I lost my job... We are on our way to shock trauma right now !" No explanation needed. - Doug D., MD

    ***********************************************

    Quotations...


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



    "Beware of the young doctor and the old barber." - Benjamin Franklin

    "Be kind, for everyone you meet is fighting a hard battle." Plato

    "Discourage litigation. Persuade your neighbors to compromise whenever you can. As a peacemaker the lawyer has superior opportunity of being a good man. There will still be business enough." - Abraham Lincoln

    "How much did your last tenant problem cost you?"
    - John Nuzzolese

    ***********************************************
    America's #1 real estate expert is also an LPA Member!
    The Landlord's Troubleshooter and more Real Estate Books By Robert Irwin
    Robert Irwin is the bestselling author of more than 50 books on real estate. His career in the real estate industry encompasses more than three decades of experience as real estate broker, landlord, and consultant to lenders, agents, and investors.
    Robert Irwin Real Estate Books



    ***********************************************

    Books by LPA Members

    The Landlord Protection Agency is proud to recommend the following landlord books written by LPA Members, Robert Irwin, Timothy Spangler, Tony & Sandy Midea and Dan Auito. Just click on the book for more information about it.

    real estate investing, landlord books





    ***********************************************


    LPA Membership Expiring?
    Take Advantage of the Renewal Prices!

    How to Check your LPA Membership Expiration Date:
    1. Be logged in with your LPA username & password
    2. On the "Main Menu" (top right), click on "Your Orders" (right below your name)
    3. The beginning date of your membership will be listed to the left of your membership order # in this format: YYYYMMDD


    NEW! Save Money with our Promotional Membership Renewal Prices!
    *Your Membership Expired? No Problem!



    ***********************************************

    Report bad tenants to the National Tenant Rating Bureau or Deadbeat Database

    ***********************************************

    Make money as an LPA Affiliate!

    Starting 6/1/07: We're DOUBLING your referral fees so you can earn twice as much!
    No more 10% referral fee, it will now be 20%!


    Earn a 10% commission on all orders placed with The Landlord Protection Agency by customers that you refer to us!

    You get paid for each order placed through your specially coded internet address for The LPA site!
    How many landlords do you know?

    Join The LPA Affiliate Program!




    ***********************************************




    SPECIAL BONUS
    for New 2 -5 year LPA Members

    This offer also applies to 2-5 year Membership Renewals!
    Check out our low renewal prices
    *Your Membership Expired? No Problem!


    ***********************************************


    landlord books, landlording, landlord information, landlord tenant law, evictions



    ***********************************************


    The LPA's

    Free Bonus for all LPA Members.... Click for more information.



    ***********************************************


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



  • Check-Out
    Log in

    Look-up
    Associations

    Attorneys

    Businesses

    Rentals Available

    Rentals Wanted

    Realty Brokers

    Tips & Advice

    Tenant Histories




    Other Areas
    Q&A Forum

    Free Forms

    Essential Forms

    Landlord Tenant Law

    State Specific Lease Clause Index

    Credit Reports

    About Us

    Articles

    Join Now

    Landlord Books

    Links

    Advertising

    Affilliates

    Newsletter Subscribe

    E-mail a friend about TheLPA

    Help






    Contact The LPA

    © 2000-2023 The Landlord Protection Agency, Inc.



    Home | About The LPA | Contact Information | LPA Membership | Landlord Q&A Forum | Free Forms | Essential Forms | Credit Reports
    E-mail a friend about TheLPA | Free Email LPA Newsletter | LPA FAQ | HELP using this site