Hidden Lease Liability Every Landlord Should Know

Q: Gerald, I just bought a rental property. Where can I get a good landlord-friendly lease? Monica, Oakland, CA.

A: Finding the ideal rental property lease can be tough. There are many different types of rental leases that serve different purposes. Landlords generally want rental leases that protect their interests and leases are often written to favor one party or another, so landlords often look for landlord-friendly leases. However, in addition to protecting your interests as a landlord, it’s important to analyze your rental lease through the eyes of a judge, because if your lease isn’t deemed reasonable for both parties, then a judge is less likely to enforce the terms of your landlord-friendly lease. Also, landlord-tenant laws vary enormously from place to place, so there really is no rental lease that would be universally ideal or appropriate for every area and property type.

For this reason, it’s always a good idea to check your rental lease with a local real estate attorney who specializes in landlord-tenant law in the area where your rental property is located.

Thanks for your question, Monica. Good luck.

For more real estate tips and information visit my blog at geraldlucas.com.