A DC landlord recently paid a $700,000 settlement in a source of income discrimination involving housing vouchers. However, rather than discriminating against tenants withe vouchers, DC alleged that the landlord favored those tenants because the vouchers paid higher rent that was permitted under DC's rent control law. This case highlights how rent control eventually can harm the rental housing market by interfering with the natural real estate economic cycle, which addresses both escalating rents and housing shortages by adding rental units to the market. Read the blog to learn more about how rent control can harm housing markets and communities and isn't the best way to address rent increases.
Read MoreWith increases in pet ownership, pet fees and restrictions have become more important. Landlords must balance their need to protect their property from damage and disruption caused by pets with the need to welcome responsible pet parents into their communities.
Read MoreBusiness should take care that their bonus programs and contracts incentivize behavior that leads to the desired goals.
Read MoreHUD's proposed eviction notice requirement will continue COVID-19 notice requirements even though COVID-19 emergency rent relief has ended.
Read MoreMultifamily landlords should ensure that community rules are necessary for safety and tenant enjoyment of their homes and do not discourage families with children from living there.
Read MoreIn addition to developing an ESG policy, real estate owners should continuously evaluate the effectiveness of their environmental initiatives and make changes as necessary to increase impact.
Read More2023 will be a time for real estate investors and managers to focus on fundamentals, such as rent growth, increased occupancy, and asset preservation. But investors with available cash may find investment opportunities where sellers facing balloon payments decide to sell.
Read MoreHUD recently charged a Kansas landlord with discrimination for requiring unnecessary documentation of a prospective tenant's need for an assistance animal. Learn what HUD claims the Kansas landlord did wrong and how what housing providers may (and may not) require from tenants requesting accommodations for an assistance animal.
Read MoreBusinesses and real estate owners should evaluate their “green” projects to ensure that they have substance, aren’t greenwashing, and haven’t been derailed by unexpected circumstances
Read MoreMany people are concerned about a flood of evictions in the wake of the U.S. Supreme Court order that ended the CDC eviction moratorium. While some evictions are likely to happen, on the eve of that order, the Department of Treasury relaxed requirements to qualify for Emergency Rental Assistance, which should help some landlords and tenants who can't pay rent. And it's likely that state and local governments will react with their own eviction moratoriums to prevent an eviction crisis in their communities.
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