10
COMMANDMENTS
For Property
Managers and Landlords
The best way to avoid bad tenants
is not to rent to them in the first place.
1st
Commandment
THOU SHALL NOT…rent to illegal residents!
2nd Commandment
THOU SHALL NOT…rent to people who have no valid photo identification!
ALWAYS require valid photoidentification from ALL applicants
that have reached the age of majority!
3rd
Commandment
THOU SHALL NOT…fail to get everything in writing!
4th
Commandment
THOU SHALL NOT…allow your tenant’s problems to become your problems!
5th
Commandment
THOU SHALL NOT…not rent to people who have been convicted of
violent crimes or have multiple criminal convictions. ALWAYS run a
credit check and criminal background check on ALL applicants and employees!
6th
Commandment
THOU SHALL NOT…be ignorant about fair housing laws and ensure
all lead-based paint related disclosures are in writing and signed by the tenant(s)!
7th
Commandment
THOU SHALL NOT…accept any funds other than certified
funds for the first month’s rents and deposits!
8th
Commandment
THOU SHALL NOT…forget that being a landlord is a “for profit” business.
There is never a legitimate excuse for late rent!
9th
Commandment
THOU SHALL NOT…procrastinate on starting the eviction process immediately
for nonpayment of rent and noncompliance violations. The only thing worse
than late rent is a tenant who is late paying the rent and will not move!
10th Commandment
THOU SHALL NOT…accept partial rent payments or security deposits!
Extra Credit Commandment
THOU SHALL NOT…forget that having a vacant rental is
ALWAYS better than having an occupied rental with a bad tenant!