Here are eight questions that will test your knowledge as a landlord
You might be taken aback when told that you need a certain level of knowledge about being a landlord before becoming one. If you’re a landlord who has ample experience in owning rental properties in Los Angeles, check out to see if your knowledge as a landlord is significant.
Below you will find a set of questions that will test your knowledge about the law and regulations meant for landlords. See how many questions you can answer. This assessment will give you the much needed confidence that you need to excel in being an investor in Los Angeles.
Questions
- Can a landlord refuse the pets of a tenant or tenant prospect?
- Can you refuse an emotional support pet or ask for an additional fee for this type of pet?
- What legal document is needed if your property was built before 1978?
- How do you serve notices for rent increase?
- Do you have the right to refuse tenancy on the basis of a large family?
- How do you enter and perform an inspection with proper notice or permission?
- Is your property rent controlled?
- What are fair-housing laws?
Answers
- Yes, you are within your right for refusing a tenant owning pets provided you are not discriminating against the tenant. Please keep in mind that over 45% of the tenants have a pet in LA which will greatly reduce a pool of potential great tenants.
- Fair Housing Law says you cannot refuse any qualified emotional support animal(ESA) and assistance and service animal. You also cannot ask for any extra payment in lieu for such an animal.
- If a property was built prior to 1978 it is required by law that you provide a lead-based paint disclosure.
- A landlord must mail a 30 day notice to inform the tenant before increasing the rent. Some cities such as West Hollywood and Santa Monica are rent-controlled and set their own limit each year according to CPI. Please be advised that this process may temporarily change or be suspended just like the recent eviction moratorium.
- The general rule of thumb is 2 people per bedroom. However, there’s no real set of rules how many people you can accept.
- Under the right to quiet enjoyment of tenants, you must ask for permission from the tenant before entering the home. In any case, it is against common courtesy and the law to barge into the home of a tenant without informing them with a proper 24 hours notice in advance.
- Most single family homes and condos are not rent controlled. If you have an apartment building or are unsure, you can always check with ZIMAS.
- In the State of California it is unlawful to discriminate in housing based on these factors:
- Ancestry
- Citizenship
- Disability, mental or physical
- Familial status
- Gender identity and gender expression
- Genetic information
- Immigration status
- Marital status
- Military and Veteran Status
- Primary language
- Race
- Religion
- Sex and gender
- Sexual orientation
If you were able to answer 6 or more of the questions above, congratulations, you are a knowledgeable landlord.
Jesse Sasomsup is the President of Earnest Homes, one of the most highly rated property management companies in Los Angeles.
