So, you’ve found yourself with a rental property and are now considered an accidental landlord. Maybe you inherited a property or paid a little too much to flip a property – don’t worry! You may have just been handed a lucrative gift, becoming an accidental landlord.
When finding yourself in this little predicament, there are actionable steps you can take to turn this opportunity into a profitable one that may just change your financial situation for the better.
Not sure where to start? No problem!
By the end of this article, you’ll know exactly what to do next to turn your status of accidental landlord into a successful landlord.
What is an Accidental Landlord?
Before diving into what to do after becoming an accidental landlord, let’s first discuss how one might find themselves with the new job role.
There are various instances where someone may find themselves in charge of a rental property, including:
- Inherited property
- Turning a rehab property investment into a rental
- Deployed active military with an empty property
- Housing market shifts leading to unplanned rentals
No matter the reason, the responsibilities of being a landlord are the same for each of these situations.
What to Do After Becoming an Accidental Landlord
After deciding to rent your property to tenants, there are a few things you should do to ensure you remain compliant with local and state laws and earn a profit.
Understand the Legal Requirements of Being a Landlord
Did you know that landlords have legal requirements and responsibilities that they must fulfill?
These requirements include:
- Providing a safe and habitable property
- Prompt necessary repairs and maintenance
- Paying taxes to keep the property in good standing
- Follow local and state laws and regulations
After becoming a landlord, it’s important to clearly understand the responsibilities you now have. Research your city and state’s landlord-tenant laws to understand what you can and cannot do with your rental and the tenants living in it.
One important piece of legislation to understand is the Fair Housing Act, which prohibits discrimination against tenants. If violated, you could face fines of up to $10,000.
Recognize Landlord and Tenant Rights
Along with responsibilities, landlords also have protected rights thanks to landlord-tenant laws. For example, landlords have the right to collect rent each month as stated in the lease agreement and proceed with eviction processes if the tenant fails to pay rent.
Just as landlords have rights, tenants have rights as well. For example, tenants have the right to withhold rent if the property is uninhabitable and require an itemized list of expenses if their security deposit is not returned in full.
Understanding the rights of both parties will help accidental landlords know what they must and can do when they have tenants.
Seek Comprehensive Landlord Insurance
Just as we insure our homes, cars, and health, landlords can also insure their rental property and income. With comprehensive landlord insurance, you can protect your property from damage, loss of rent due to an inhabitable property, and liability.
As a new and accidental landlord, it’s a smart idea to take out landlord insurance as a layer of protection as you navigate this new responsibility.
Write a Legal Lease Agreement
One of the most important documents you will write and sign as a landlord is the lease agreement. This document outlines the terms you and your tenant will agree to, such as the rent amount, when rent is due, late rent fees, pet allowances, and more.
Make sure you work with a real estate professional to write a legal lease agreement that is specific to your rental property and expectations as a landlord. Try to avoid using online lease templates, as some may not be valid in your state.
Consider Opening an LLC
Many landlords choose to hold their rental properties in an LLC to protect their personal assets. As an accidental landlord who didn’t plan to own or manage a rental property, this could be a good financial and liability decision.
Opening an LLC is easy to do and can be done online for just a couple hundred dollars.
Set a Fair (but Profitable) Rent Price
Before searching for tenants to live in your rental property, you’ll have to set a price for the rent. This can be one of the trickiest parts of being a landlord. You have to find a happy middle ground that aligns with the real estate market and properly values the property.
A good place to start is by requesting a free rental analysis to see how much you should charge.
Consider Hiring a Reliable Property Management Company
Managing a rental property, even when planning to do so, is extremely time-consuming and often stressful. From communicating with tenants to coordinating repairs and maintenance to requesting rent each month, it can take a lot of out of you.
Being a landlord can easily become a full-time job, especially if you own more than one rental property. So, in your case of being an accidental landlord, you most definitely don’t have time to manage your rental property alone.
That’s where a reliable rental property manager comes in! These professional companies have built effective and successful systems that manage and maintain your rental property to ensure they maximize your ROI and keep tenants happy.
Property management companies are a savior for many accidental landlords, especially if they live in a different state than the property or already have their hands full with other jobs and responsibilities.
Make the Most Out of Being an Accidental Landlord with Scout Property Management
Finding yourself in a position of being an accidental landlord could be a blessing in disguise, especially when you work with Scout Property Management to help with the daily management tasks.
Our team of real estate experts and professionals helps hundreds of landlords sit back, relax, and enjoy their passive income while we do the heavy lifting. All you have to do is cash your checks (or watch them enter your direct deposit) and sign some papers.
If you enjoyed this article, make sure to read Important Terms Every Real Estate Investor Should Know next!