For many people, there are several perks to renting a place to live, from flexibility in moving to the lack of maintenance responsibilities. One downside to renting? Not being able to personalize the space with certain design choices due to the terms of the rental agreement. But there are ways around this. We’re sharing six renter-friendly DIY (do it yourself!) projects and renovations that can spruce up your home without violating your lease or upsetting your landlord. [Read more…]
6 Renter-Friendly DIY Projects to Spruce Up Your Space
February 1, 2023 by
Can a Landlord Require Renters Insurance?
November 16, 2022 by
While approximately 95% of homeowners in the U.S. have homeowners insurance, only about 57% of renters have renters insurance. Unlike car insurance, here in Massachusetts, renters insurance is not required by law. And although the benefits of having renters insurance are various, with policies starting at very low premiums, many still choose to go without in order to save a few dollars a month. But wait—not so fast. Even if it’s not a government mandate, landlords often ask that their tenants do make the investment. This begs the question: Can landlords be the ones to require renters insurance? [Read more…]
Who’s Responsible for Rental Repairs—the Landlord or Tenant?
October 12, 2022 by
If you’re renting a place to live rather than buying the home, you may be enjoying the benefit of not having to perform the maintenance and repairs since it’s not your property. Sure, if a lightbulb’s burnt out or the smoke detector needs new batteries, you can and will handle it. But when it comes to larger projects and more serious issues, who’s physically and financially responsible for the rental repairs—you or your landlord? Well, it depends on the issue and who or what caused it. Let’s take a closer look at key distinctions.
What To Know Before Signing a Rental Lease
August 27, 2021 by
With the price of housing at an all-time high, more people are becoming and staying renters. If you’re one of those people and you’ve found the perfect apartment for your lifestyle, it can be tempting to rush the agreement process and settle into your new home. However, it’s important you take some time to assess the situation and ask the landlord the right questions before moving in. Being informed protects you from any unwanted surprises down the road or from agreeing to an unfavorable contract. To help you out, we’re here to discuss what to know before signing a rental lease. [Read more…]
Identifying and Avoiding Rental and Landlord Fraud Scams
April 16, 2021 by
The COVID-19 pandemic has generated a lot of uncertainty as eviction deferrals have come to fruition. This has many in need of affordable housing, which has unfortunately uncovered a lot of scammers seeking to take advantage of peoples’ desperation. False apartment listings or hidden rental fees can be a huge burden on those already struggling financially. With these sorts of schemes becoming increasingly common, let’s review the keys to identifying and avoiding rental and landlord fraud scams. [Read more…]
Who is Responsible for Improvements on Leased Property?
November 29, 2019 by
From spiffing up a single-bedroom apartment to overhauling a leased retail space, an improvement made on leased property changes the value of the property overall. Unlike with possessions, many improvements (or betterments) made to the property cannot easily be taken with them, so who is responsible for cover the increased value when it comes to insurance: the lessee or the landlord? Today we’re going to look at how improvements on the leased property should be covered and whose responsibility they should be.
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