Landlord to blame in carbon monoxide deaths?

Here in Toledo, Ohio, our community suffered a great and needless tragedy this past week when four innocent lives were lost due to carbon monoxide poisoning in their rented home.

If you read the Toledo Blade story linked above, you'll find out that the family of four had recently moved into the rental home, and that the current landlord has owned the property himself only a short time. You'll also find out that the home had no water, electric or gas utility services, and that the landlord supplied the family with a gas-powered generator only hours before that same generator running indoors emitted toxic carbon monoxide fumes so powerful that they killed the entire family as they slept.

It turns out that the utilities were turned off before this particular landlord owned the property -- the electric, when a former tenant moved out; and the gas, at the request of a tenant, possibly due to an inability to pay a $200 bill balance. I've not seen any information about the property's water service.

Is the landlord culpable in these four tragic deaths?

I'm going to say yes, he is.

Any health department inspector would've found the property to be unfit for habitation. No water, no heat. As a landlord, you ought not rent out any property that's not fit for habitation. I'm sure this guy, the current landlord, wasn't thrilled to find out that at least one utility bill needed to be paid before service could be restored to the address, but that's one of those things you suck up and deal with when you're an investment property owner.

Expect a lawsuit to be filed by surviving family members, if not formal charges levied by authorities, in this case.


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There's still time to lower your heating bills this winter (for FREE)

If we cross our fingers and wish real hard, maybe spring will come as soon as Punxsutawney Phil predicted earlier this month.

What's certain is that we're not done paying winter heating bills quite yet -- at least we're not done here in Ohio, where it can snow right through April.

There's still time to lower your heating bills, though, even if you didn't do a complete weather-proofing sweep of your home in the fall.

I know what many of you tenants are thinking:

"I'm a renter! I can't replace my windows or install a new furnace even if I had the money to do it."

Well, true.

That's why I put together this list of Four Fast, Free Ways to Lower Your Heating Bills. Check 'em out. Even if you're a renter, you probably can access everything you need to access right inside your apartment to make these four quick changes. They won't cost you a dime and might even save you one and then some!


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Tenant retention strategies for landlords

In my last post, I linked landlords to an article about types of unsavory rental applicants -- the kind you want to decline and thereby save yourself many headaches.

On the flip side of that coin are the wonderful tenants landlords want to keep around for years and years. If you're a landlord reading my blog, you might want to read How Landlords Can Retain Their Best Tenants for a 4-step plan for tenant retention.

Great tenants do exist! And, in fact, they're not that hard to keep. Check out the linked article for tips.



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New landlords: Avoid these five tenant types

One thing I learned from being a property manager is that landlording is not for nice guys. That's not to say that I didn't like most of my tenants or try to be nice to them; I did.

But I also learned, at my boss's urging, that sometimes you have to say "no." No to unnecessary repairs or upgrades, no to extraordinary lease provisions and even, sometimes, no to prospective tenants who had applied to rent with us.

My latest article is targeted at landlords, particularly new ones. It's "Five Tenant Types Unfit for Your Investment Property."

Some rental applicants just are too risky to rent to or are too likely to bring headaches with them to your property. Learn who they are by clicking on the article title above.


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Should you rent a duplex apartment? Compare the pros and cons.

In a follow-up to two of my most popular articles for prospective tenants, I've published "Pros and Cons of Renting a Duplex Apartment."

Like its predecessors, "Pros and Cons of Top Floor Apartments" and "Pros and Cons of First Floor Apartments," my duplex pro-and-con write-up offers you an insider's view on the advantages and disadvantages of living in one particular type of apartment.

Want a sneak preview of what I have to say about these two-residence rental homes? Here you go:

Pro: Big Brother is Across Town

Lots of apartment complexes house a property manager on site or at the very least there is a leasing office on the premises. Not so when you rent a duplex. Read the cons of this arrangement below, but first think about why this might be a good thing.

If you value your privacy and don't like the idea of management keeping tabs on your comings and goings, or those of your visitors, you'll be glad there is no arm of the landlord there to observe you on a daily basis. Maybe you keep late hours, or maybe your boyfriend/girlfriend frequently stays over. Whatever the case may be, it's none of your landlord's business.

Con: The Maintenance Man is Across Town, Too

Of course you might find yourself wishing there was a property manager, leasing office or maintenance staff on the premises when your air conditioning stops working, when ants take over your bathroom, when you lock yourself out of your apartment, or when you've forgotten to pay rent and it's currently 4:57 p.m. on the first of the month.

Privacy concerns aside, it really can be more convenient to live where you have easier access to your property manager. ...

Want to read more? Go here!


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Should you stop renting in 2011?

While this is a blog for renters and landlords, I have to wonder how many of my renting readers are considering taking the plunge in 2011 and buying a home?

"Should You Stop Renting and Buy a Home in 2011?" is directed at anyone surveying the real estate market and thinking this year is the year to stop paying rent forever. It includes links to several experts' predictions for the real estate market for the coming year.

Hint: If you're going to stop renting and buy a home in 2011, do it before June!


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Happy holidays + a new rental blog for you to check out

No posts at all this month so far! Sorry, readers.

I do have two rent-related articles written and awaiting publication, but it seems the holiday is slowing things down. Once they are published, I'll link to them from here. One details the pros and cons of living in duplex apartments and the other is a how-to guide for landlords. Stay tuned!

Speaking of duplex apartments, I stumbled upon another blog you might find interesting. Check out http://www.iboughtaduplex.com/. I love to be a fly on the wall -- or in this case, the reader of a blog -- as landlords and property managers discuss the ins and outs of rentals from their perspective.

Meanwhile, happy holidays to the readers of the Easy Rent Editor blog! See you in 2011!


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Best buys for better apartment living

"Thin walls, limited space and little control over maintenance. When you live in an apartment, these are just a few of the inconveniences that come with the territory. However, you can make your rented home a little more livable with these Top 10 Best Buys for Better Apartment Living."

Check out the article linked above for a Top 10 List of good purchases to deal with some of the nonsense that comes with apartment life and make your home-sweet-rented-home a little more comfortable.

The article cites portable heaters, houseplants, area rugs and white noise machines among its suggestions.

(Perfect reading, too, if you have a renter on your Christmas shopping list this year!)



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Should you get a payday loan to pay rent?

In my last blog post, I linked you to an article about alternative ways to pay rent when you're just a little short on cash and the rent is due. But if none of those ideas applied to you, you're still stuck and can't pay rent on time.

You might next consider a payday loan to pay rent. Before you do, read this list of payday loan pros and cons at "Should You Pay Rent With a Payday Loan?"



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Short on rent money? Suggestions for getting the rent paid on time

Having a bad month that finds you just a bit short on funds when it comes time to pay rent?

You're not the first and you won't be the last. Paying rent late, though, is one sure way to get on the landlord's bad side. It's also a sure way to incur extra fees on your tenant account.

If you're determined to pay rent on time but you're just a bit short on cash, check out "Can't Pay Your Rent on Time? Three Alternative Ways to Pay." The article, just published today, offers a few ideas you might want to try in order to pay rent on time and stay on the landlord's good side.



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Reduce winter utility bills with these cheapskate window insulation tips

Is your apartment freezing cold due to drafty windows? Paying outrageous heating bills because your furnace never stops running?

Check out "The Cheapskate's Guide to Drafty Apartment Windows" for both traditional techniques to insulate your apartment windows, as well as cheapie DIY alternative ways to cut down drafts and stay warm in your apartment.


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One for the parents: To co-sign or not to co-sign, that is the question!

Has your child asked you to co-sign an apartment lease for him or her?

It's not uncommon for a landlord to require a co-signer for young tenants who don't have much of a rental history. And usually parents are the most apt to sign on. But before you co-sign the lease, make sure to read "Should I Co-Sign an Apartment Lease for My Child?"

The article lets you know what your obligations will be as an apartment lease co-signer and what pitfalls you'll have to avoid.

Autumn tree care for your rental property

A couple of weeks ago, I asked my renter-readers what apartment maintenance tasks their leases require them to be responsible for.

To follow up: If you're responsible for yard maintenance, you might find this article about fall tree maintenance helpful.

Tree maintenance isn't normally something renters are too concerned about; thankfully, that's usually a landlord's job. So we'll just consider this a "bonus" blog post amongst friends -- unless you, yourself, are a property manager like I used to be. In that case, you'll be more inclined to check it out.



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How to view an apartment -- one room at a time

We're going back to the basics for this blog post, and it's aimed squarely at newbie apartment hunters or those of you who haven't looked for a new apartment in a long time.

Here are some tips on what to look for when you're looking for an apartment. Check out the article's room-by-room apartment-viewing tips written especially for first-time apartment hunters.

"How to View an Apartment: A Guide for New Apartment Hunters" also links to a printable apartment-hunting checklist for your convenience. I think you'll find it useful if you're searching for a new apartment -- Good luck, and happy hunting!



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What apartment maintenance tasks are you responsible for?

Some leases -- particularly if you're renting a house or a duplex -- make certain home maintenance tasks the responsibility of the tenant rather than the landlord.

For example, duplex and single-family home renters sometimes must shovel their own sidewalks in the wintertime and mow their own lawns in the summer. Aside from that, almost every tenant must occasionally change a light bulb or replace the batteries in their smoke detectors. And, unfortunately, some tenants take on more of their fair share of rental home maintenance tasks simply because they have landlords who aren't prompt about doing it or outright refuse.

For tenants who fit the descriptions above, check out the Top 10 Best Buys for Easier Home Maintenance. If you're looking to get the most bang out of your buck when purchasing home maintenance tools or supplies, this Top 10 list is a good guide for choosing essential home maintenance products that will make tasks easier and faster and, in some cases, will save you money.



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