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The tax code is ever-changing, and for all landlords, 2015 has proven to be one of the most difficult and downright thorny years to date. The IRS implemented Form 3115, Application for Change in Accounting Method, on January 1st, 2014, which sent property owners into a tailspin and the phones at every accounting firm ringing.

Housing inspectors are seeking legal action against the owners of three apartment buildings in the Mission District [of San Francisco] for blocking fire escapes and having alarm systems that don’t work.

The FREE “Million Dollar” Trade Show and Landlording Conference! Thursday, May 14th at the Long Beach Convention Center – Hall C  Mark your calendars for Thursday, May 14th for AOA’s “Million Dollar Trade Show and Landlording Conference” in Long Beach. You will meet just about every contractor and vendor you will ever need… it’s called…

Successful landlords use various strategies to collect rent on time. Here are 12 different strategies.

Interacting with the people who make our industry go is one of the most rewarding and interesting aspects of my job as Publisher of the Rental Housing Journal.  From the top executives at large management companies and apartment association leadership, to on-sites and leasing agents, to independent rental owners and industry suppliers, I’ve gleaned a…

Q:  How much can I legally charge a tenant as a screening fee?

Dear AOA: I just want to get a note to Dan Faller about the article titled Overreaching Regulators are Squeezing Liberty Out of Existence” that he put in the October Tri-County edition. I really appreciate the author Richard W. Rahn’s content, and Dan’s editorial note that followed. It’s nice to know that somebody understands. The…

You have heard it all before.  Some of us have even said it ourselves – “Being a landlord can be a pain.”  Most people in this country will agree that it makes a lot of sense to buy property and invest in real estate.  We also know all the benefits of investing in real estate. …

Prescriptive easements are once again front and center in the news.  On March 5, 2015 California Court of Appeal restated the principle that “constructive” knowledge by an owner of the neighbor’s use of his land is sufficient notice to create an easement by prescription even if the owner did not have “actual” knowledge of the…

Question One: I have a tenant who gave notice to leave in mid-March. I told her that our policy was to have her pay the entire month’s rent on March 1st. We would then prorate back the excess rent after she moved out. This is the way I’ve always handled mid-month move-outs. She refused and