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Hoarders are not just people who appear in a reality TV show or in articles on the Internet. Hoarders exist everywhere and, in every community, including in multi-family rental communities. Apartment resident hoarding can cause significant health and safety problems, both in the resident’s unit and in neighboring units. Hoarding can create pest infestations, mold … Resident Hoarding Can Be A Problem

Thieves and con artists are always looking for new ways to take advantage of unsuspecting victims. As processes get automated, defrauding apartment complexes becomes less about tricking the staff and more about gaming the system. A client recently alerted THS of one such new scam in the industry. The fraudster submits an application online, making … Be Alert for Industry Scams

With warmer weather comes the opening of pools along with client questions regarding appropriate pool rules and pool signs. When it comes to Pool issues there are few absolutes and pool rule issues for multi-family housing providers can be confusing, particularly when it comes to Fair Housing. Most, if not all, of the pool rules … Pool Rules: Good Intentions Can Create Bad Results

Airbnb while popular with the public, has elicited a negative view from the traditional hospitality industry and is making an attempt to reverse this stigma with multi-family housing providers by teaming up to create a solution that works for “everyone.” This partnership will first need to address several initial issues before any kind of arrangement … Airbnb Update Info For Multifamily Housing Providers

When returning a security deposit, it’s important to make the check payable to all of the Residents.  This prevents one of the Residents from individually claiming the Landlord failed to meet the statutory duty to timely account for the deposit. The Pay To The Order Of line should list each Resident name and include the … Be Precise When Drafting Security Deposit Refund Checks

Companion animals are also known as emotional support animals or therapeutic animals.  Companion animals are a form of assistive animal under fair housing laws.  As a form of assistive animal, there is no difference between a companion animal and a service animal.  Recently the number of companion animal requests are going through the roof.  It … Companion Animals Not Always A Companion Animal

Abandonment is a timeless issue. Clients never stop asking about it since abandonment scenarios happen regularly. Because failure to follow abandonment best practices can cost you thousands, or even tens of thousands of dollars, this month we want to reinforce everything you need to know about abandonment. In layman’s terms, abandonment means that the tenant … Abandonment

Does credit reporting significantly increase collections? Credit reporting does benefit collections, but its overall impact is not well documented.  Credit reporting’s impact on collections is more anecdotal (somebody wanted to buy a house so we got paid), and probably grossly overestimated.  Most collection agencies report to the credit bureaus. If credit reporting magically collected money, … Why Is Credit Reporting Important?

What is a collection rate, or collection percentage? Almost, without exception, all rental debt is collected on a contingency percentage, also known as a collection rate, or collection percentage.  You pay nothing if no money is collected.  If an agency is successful in collecting money, the agency’s fee is a percentage of the amount collected.  … Common Questions About Collecting Rental Debt

What is the most important issue about a collection agreement? The term of the agreement.  Everyone in this business knows you’re only as good as last month’s performance.  For this reason all vendor contracts can be cancelled, without cause, upon thirty days notice.  Most collection agency agreements contain this provision.  Yet, many collection agreements contain … What You Need To Know About Collection Agencies