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Are you planning on renting your house in 2024? If so, you’re making a smart choice!

Renting your home will enable you to earn consistent passive income while you still are able to enjoy the benefits of homeownership.

In this article, we will share with you several tips you can use for renting your home in 2024:

Tips For Renting Your Home In 2024

1. Understand Local Laws and Regulations:
   • Familiarize yourself with local landlord-tenant laws and regulations. These can vary significantly from one location to another.
2. Prepare the Property:
   • Make necessary repairs and improvements to ensure the property is in good condition for tenants. This may include painting, fixing plumbing issues, and addressing safety concerns.
3. Determine Rent:
   • Research the rental market in your area to determine a competitive rental price. Consider factors like location, size, amenities, and local demand.
4. Screen Potential Tenants:
   • Establish Oregon criteria for selecting tenants, such as income requirements, credit checks, and rental history. Advertise the property through various channels and screen applicants thoroughly.
5. Create a Lease Agreement:
   • Draft a comprehensive lease agreement that includes all relevant terms and conditions. Be sure to cover rent amount, lease duration, security deposit details, maintenance responsibilities, and any other rules or policies.
6. Security Deposit:
   • Determine the amount for the security deposit, which is typically one month’s rent. Clearly outline the conditions under which the deposit may be withheld, such as damages beyond normal wear and tear.
7. Understand Landlord Responsibilities:
   • Familiarize yourself with your responsibilities as a landlord, which may include maintenance, repairs, and compliance with health and safety codes.
8. Get Insurance:
   • Consider obtaining landlord insurance to protect your property from potential damages. This type of insurance may also provide liability coverage.
9. Utilities and Services:
   • Determine how utilities will be handled. Clearly communicate which utilities are included in the rent and which ones tenants are responsible for.
10. Provide Documentation:
    • Prepare copies of all relevant documentation, including the lease agreement, property rules, and any required disclosures. Make sure tenants have a clear understanding of their rights and responsibilities.
11. Collect Rent and Security Deposit:
    • Set up a system for collecting rent and the security deposit. Determine the method of payment and establish a schedule.
12. Walk-Through and Inspection:
    • Conduct a walk-through with the tenants before they move in to document the property’s condition. Use a checklist and take photos to avoid disputes later.
13. Emergency Contacts:
    • Provide tenants with emergency contact information in case of maintenance issues or urgent situations.
14. Stay Informed:
    • Stay informed about changes in local laws and regulations that may affect landlord-tenant relationships.

Remember, it’s crucial to consult with legal and real estate professionals to ensure that you comply with all applicable laws and protect your interests as a landlord.

Know When It’s Time To Hire A Property Manager

Although you can continue managing your Portland area rental property yourself, you will see a better return on investment by hiring a property manager.

If you’re on the fence about hiring a property management company, here are several reasons to hire a professional property management company.

Hiring a property manager can be beneficial for landlords, especially those who may not have the time, expertise, or inclination to handle the day-to-day responsibilities of managing rental properties. Here are several reasons why you might consider hiring a property manager:

1. Time Savings:
   • Managing rental properties can be time-consuming, involving tasks such as advertising, tenant screening, maintenance, and dealing with emergencies. A property manager can handle these responsibilities, freeing up your time for other activities.
2. Tenant Screening:
   • Property managers are experienced in tenant screening, which includes conducting background checks, verifying employment and rental history, and checking references. This helps ensure that you get reliable and responsible tenants.
3. Rent Collection:
   • Property managers can handle rent collection, ensuring that payments are received on time. They can also enforce lease agreements and handle late payments or evictions if necessary.
4. Property Maintenance:
   • Property managers oversee maintenance and repairs, addressing issues promptly to keep the property in good condition. They often have a network of reliable contractors and can negotiate better rates for services.
5. Legal Compliance:
   • Property managers are well-versed in landlord-tenant laws and regulations. They can help you stay compliant with local, state, and federal laws, reducing the risk of legal issues.
6. Emergency Response:
   • In case of emergencies or urgent situations, property managers can provide a quick and effective response. They have established procedures for handling unexpected events and can coordinate repairs or assistance.
7. Market Knowledge:
   • Property managers have a good understanding of the local rental market. They can help you determine competitive rental rates, optimize property marketing, and adjust rent prices based on market trends.
8. Property Marketing:
   • Property managers have expertise in marketing rental properties effectively. They can use various channels to attract potential tenants, create compelling property listings, and conduct showings to secure reliable tenants quickly.
9. Lease Enforcement:
   • Property managers enforce lease agreements, ensuring that tenants adhere to the terms and conditions. This includes addressing lease violations, handling disputes, and initiating eviction processes if necessary.
10. Financial Management:
    • Property managers can handle financial aspects, including budgeting, financial reporting, and maintaining records. This can help you keep track of expenses, income, and overall financial performance.
11. Reduced Stress:
    • By delegating the day-to-day management tasks to a property manager, landlords can experience reduced stress and enjoy a more hands-off approach to property ownership.
12. Expertise in Real Estate:
    • Property managers often have a background in real estate and property management, bringing expertise in handling various aspects of the rental market.

Before hiring a property manager, it’s essential to carefully research and choose a reputable and experienced professional or property management company. Consider their track record, fees, and the services they offer to ensure they align with your specific needs and goals as a property owner.

Contact 4 Rent Local

At 4 Rent Local, our team specializes in local property management for Portland, and surrounding areas.

To learn more about the services that we can offer you, contact us today by calling (503) 447-7788 or click here to connect with us online.

Are you searching for the latest Oregon landlord-tenant information for 2022-2023? If so, you’ve come to the right place!

In this article, we will share with you the most up-to-date landlord-tenant information that you can use for growing your rental property business in all the local cities and neighborhoods in the Portland Metro area.

Oregon Landlord Tenant  – Rights and Duties of Landlords

From the moment that you rent your property to a tenant; you enter a landlord-tenant relationship with them. This means that the tenant has a variety of rights that are recognized under the law, and they must be respected.

One of the most common rights that every tenant in Oregon landlord-tenant has is the right to be notified at least 24 hours in advance that the landlord is going to enter their rental property.

This notice should be placed on the door of the rental property so that the tenant knows that they have ample time to prepare for the landlord’s arrival. If the tenant is not notified, failure to comply with this rule is one of the most common reasons why landlords and tenants end up in court.

Habitability:

It is your responsibility to provide a home that is habitable and to make repairs when needed.

You must equip the residence with a properly working smoke and carbon monoxide detector and provide the initial set of batteries if it is battery operated.

By renting your property to the tenant, you give that tenant the right to possess and use your property, free from interference.

You may not enter frequently, at odd hours or without a legitimate reason or without notice

You cannot lock a tenant out:

The only exception to the no lockout rule is when a tenant who can demonstrate they have been the victim of domestic violence, stalking, or sexual assault asks to have the perpetrator tenant locked out of the unit where the victim of the crime continues to live.

As a Oregon landlord tenant, you are also responsible for observing federal, state, and local fair housing laws.

Discrimination:

You cannot discriminate against a tenant for having children, because of their disability, or because of their religion, race, sex, ethnic background, sexual orientation, or gender identity.

When a tenant is applying to rent, you also cannot consider a tenant’s past eviction case that they successfully defended.

You cannot discriminate against a tenant because they were a victim of a domestic violence, sexual assault, or stalking crime.

For more information about your fair housing duties, visit the Fair Housing Council of Oregon.

It is also illegal to retaliate against a tenant by raising the rent, shutting off utilities, or trying to evict the tenant because they complained to you or a public agency about habitability conditions, discrimination, or other violations of the law, or because the tenant joined or formed a tenant’s organization.

Security Deposit Return:

You must account for or refund to the tenant any security deposits after the tenant moves out. You must give the tenant a written accounting that states specifically why you kept a portion or all the deposit within 31 days of the rental agreement. If you do not comply with this requirement, the tenant can sue you for twice the amount of the deposit.

Notices to Terminate the Tenancy

To end a month-to-month tenancy during the first year of the tenancy, you must give your tenant a 30-day written notice, unless the rental unit is in the city of Portland, where 90 days’ notice and payment of relocation costs is required for no-cause terminations. The tenant may also terminate the tenancy with a 30-day written notice. A week-to-week rental period requires a 10-day notice.

If your tenant has lived in the dwelling for more than a year, you cannot terminate the tenancy for no cause unless you have a “qualifying landlord reason.” Qualifying landlord reasons are:

• You intend to demolish the dwelling unit or convert it to non-residential use, or
• You intend to do repairs or renovations which would render the unit unsafe, or
• You intend to move yourself or a close family member into the unit, or
• You have accepted an offer to purchase the dwelling unit from a person who intends to occupy it.

A fixed-term tenancy of less than one year will automatically convert to a month-to-month tenancy after the expiration of the fixed term unless the landlord has given a notice of termination at least 30 days prior to the end date stated in the rental agreement.

In Portland, Oregon landlord tenant must still give at least 90 days’ notice of intent not to renew a fixed-term tenancy. You cannot end a fixed-term tenancy early unless you have cause to end it, such as a violation of the lease by the tenant.

If a tenant (or someone in the tenant’s control) threatens to or inflicts substantial personal injury to a person on the property or neighbor, intentionally inflicts substantial damage to the property, or commits an act that is outrageous in the extreme, you may give the tenant a 24-hour notice to leave

The notice must be in writing in a special legal form.

The notice must explain the reason for termination, and it must be delivered personally to the tenant or mailed to the tenant by first class mail only. If a notice is mailed, you must add three days to the notice time. (The additional three days does not include the date of mailing.)

The legal form of the notice must be correct in all details to be enforced in court.

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Oregon Landlord Tenant – Rights And Duties of Tenants

When you rent a house or an apartment, you enter a legal contract with someone. With this contract begins what is known as a landlord-tenant relationship. As a tenant, you have certain rights and responsibilities. First, you have the right of exclusive possession, which means that even though the landlord owns the property, you generally have the right to your privacy. No one may invade your “home” without legal authority. As such, your landlord must give you at least 24 hours notice before entering the property unless there is an emergency, unless you have requested repairs or maintenance (without designating certain dates and times), or unless the contract permits the landlord to enter the grounds (but not the dwelling unit) for yard maintenance.

Your landlord may enter the property after advance notice to make inspections, make necessary repairs, supply necessary services, or to show the property to prospective buyers or work people. If reasonable, you may deny your oregon landlord tenant permission to enter; however, you must act reasonably. Just as the landlord cannot abuse the right of access to harass you or enter at unreasonable times, you cannot withhold your permission to enter to hinder or interfere with the landlord’s exercise of his or her rights and responsibilities.’

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Contact Rent Portland Homes – Professionals

At 4RentLocal.com/Rent Portland Homes – Professionals, we specialize in managing single-family and multifamily properties across the entire Portland Metro Area.

Owning local rental properties has only gotten more complicated since COVID-19. Thankfully, having an experienced property manager managing your investment property will save you the time and hassle of DIY management while ensuring that your property is rented for top dollar.

To learn more about the property management services we can offer you, or for a property management quote, contact us today by clicking here or calling (503) 447-7735.