Ask Lucas 001: Introducing Ask Lucas!
Summary: I’m so excited to share with you the newest feature of Landlordology; Ask Lucas! In this inaugural episode, I talk about its purpose to provide a bite-sized question and answer forum for...
View ArticleAsk Lucas 002: How Much Can I Raise the Rent?
Summary: Today’s question is from Stan in Austin, Texas, who is asking if there is a limit on amount he can raise the rent. Full Transcript: Lucas: Hey, what’s up everyone? This is Lucas Hall from...
View ArticleAsk Lucas 003: How Much Notice Do I Have to Give Before Entering a Rental?
Summary: Today’s question is from John in Phoenix, Arizona, who wants to know how much notice he has to provide, and in what situations can he enter a rental property. Full Transcript: Lucas: Hey,...
View ArticleAsk Lucas 004: Fireworks, Tenants and Safety, Oh My!
Summary: Vickie from Florida is concerned that her tenants might ignite fireworks in celebration of Independence Day, but she doesn’t have anything in her lease restricting it. What can she do? Full...
View ArticleAsk Lucas 005: Should I Buy a Home Warranty for my Rental?
Summary: Rachel from Michigan just bought her first rental property (Hooray!), but is wondering if she should buy a home warranty insurance package. It’s a tough question, as most warranties cost...
View ArticleAsk Lucas 006: Is a Lease Terminated when the Property is Sold?
Summary: Guy from Virginia is wondering what happens to his lease when the landlord sells the property. Does it continue or can it be terminated? The landlord wants to terminate the lease early, but...
View ArticleAsk Lucas 007: Must I Allow my Tenants to be at the Move-out Inspection?
Summary: Mike from Madison, Wisconsin is concerned that if he allows his tenants to be at the move-out inspection, they will inhibit the inspection process and try to keep him from documenting all the...
View ArticleAsk Lucas 008: How Do Online Rent Payments Work?
Summary: Ted from New Mexico has been collecting paper rent checks for years and is wondering if online rent payments would be a better option for him. However, he’s not quite sure how it works, and...
View ArticleAsk Lucas 009: Should I Hire a Property Manager?
Summary: Dave from Arizona is moving out-of-state and wants to rent out his current residence. He’s never been a landlord before and wondering if he should hire a local property manager, or is he able...
View ArticleAsk Lucas 010: How Much Can a Landlord Charge for Carpet Damage?
Summary: Pete, a tenant from Portland, says his landlord is trying to charge him for the entire cost to replace the carpet. However, the carpet wasn’t new when he moved in. How much can the landlord...
View ArticleAsk Lucas 011: What’s in the Move-In and Move-Out Letters?
Summary: In this episode, Bo asks about move-in / move-out letters. What kind of information do I list in my welcome and departure letters? Learn more about the move-in / move-out process in The...
View ArticleAsk Lucas 012: Are Online Rental Applications More Secure than Paper...
Summary: In this episode, Cynthia asks about Cozy and is concerned about online security. She is also wondering if she needs to collect paper applications when using Cozy. Full Transcript: Lucas Hall:...
View ArticleAsk Lucas 013: Should I Include Utilities in the Rent Price?
Summary: Amy is wondering if she should include the cost of utilities in the overall price of rent, or manage them independently and then bill the tenants separately. Lucas discusses the options and...
View ArticleAsk Lucas 014: What Makes a Room a “Bedroom”?
Summary: Larry from Massachusetts asks about the rules and regulations to create a bedroom or sleeping space in a basement or attic. What requirements help make a room into a “bedroom”? Full...
View ArticleAsk Lucas 015: Handling Abandoned Personal Property and a 25-year-old Desk
Summary: Sue has a tenant who is leaving behind a 25-year-old desk. What does she need to do in order to prepare the unit for the next tenant, while complying with laws on abandoned person property in...
View ArticleAsk Lucas 016: What are the Rules for Entering and Showing an Occupied Property?
Summary: Michael from Fresno, California is a new landlord, and needs to show his property to a prospective tenant. Can Michael showcase the property while the dwelling is occupied by a tenant, and...
View ArticleAsk Lucas 017: An Interview with Money Radio from Phoenix Arizona
Summary: Lucas Hall is interviewed by Money Radio 1510 AM, from Phoenix Arizona. How did you get started, and why do you invest in buy and hold rentals, rather than flips? How can Landlordology and...
View ArticleAsk Lucas 018: What’s the Best Way to Split Shared Utilities in a Multifamily...
Summary: Elise from Utah asks about her seemingly high gas utility bill. The landlord manages the shared utilities, and it doesn’t seem accurate. Who is responsible for shared utilities at multifamily...
View ArticleAsk Lucas 019: Can I Split Utilities by the Number of People in Each Unit?
Summary: Danielle asks a follow-up question to episode 18. Wouldn’t it be better to split the utilities by the number of people in each unit, rather than square footage, and what are the pros and cons...
View ArticleAsk Lucas 020: Does the 3-Day Right of Rescission Apply to Rental Contracts?
Summary: Jill from Key West, Florida was promised an apartment but it was rented to someone else instead. She’s wondering if the landlord has the right to cancel the agreement with the other tenant...
View ArticleAsk Lucas 021: Why Don’t You Collect Last Month’s Rent?
Summary: Ryan asks about last month’s rent, and why Lucas doesn’t ever collect it. Is there a better way to provide security against a tenant who abandons the last month’s payment? Full Transcript:...
View ArticleAsk Lucas 022: Tenant Screening in Less than an Hour?
Summary: Francie from Indiana asks about my methods to screen tenants quickly and effectively. Quality tenant screening requires reviewing lots of documentation and talking to other landlords. Learn...
View ArticleAsk Lucas 023: Should I Add an Unqualified Applicant to an Existing Lease?
Summary: Lindsey from Iowa asks about adding a very, very unqualified roommate to an existing lease. What are her options and what would I do in this situation? Full Transcript: Lucas: Hey, everyone....
View ArticleAsk Lucas 024: Do I Have To Fix That Window?
Summary: Leah is asking about a landlord’s responsibility to fix issues that might affect habitability verses cosmetic issues. Full Transcript: Ask Lucas, episode number twenty-four. Lucas: Hey,...
View ArticleAsk Lucas 025: How Do I Handle a Short-Term Squatter?
Summary: Ben from California is asking if he can move back into his condo that has been highjacked by a friend. Full Transcript: Lucas: What’s up everyone, welcome to the 25th episode of Ask Lucas....
View ArticleAsk Lucas 026: What are the Best Digital Signature Tools for a Rental Lease?
Summary: Blake from Maryland is wants to sign a lease with a remote applicant who is currently living in Texas. Will a digital signature hold up in court and what are the best tools to digitally sign...
View ArticleAsk Lucas 027: A Property Management Q&A Marathon
Q&A Summary: A recording from our latest live Q&A webinar. Listen to Lucas Hall answer over 20 questions about landlording and property management. Landlordology and Ask Lucas are brought to...
View ArticleAsk Lucas 028: What is a “Holding Deposit” and How does it Work?
Summary: Jenny is wondering what is the best practice for a “holding deposit” or “good faith deposit”, and can it be non-refundable? How does it work? Landlordology and Ask Lucas are brought to you by...
View ArticleAsk Lucas 029: Are Bedbugs a Landlord’s Responsibility?
Summary: Gwen from London is asking about her obligations to eradicate bedbugs from her rental in New York City. The bedbugs appeared after the tenant moved in, and she suspects the tenant brought...
View ArticleAsk Lucas 030: How Do You Perform an Annual Property Inspection?
Summary: Brenda from Oregon is asking how to perform a yearly property inspection, and what to watch out for when communicating with tenants. Landlordology and Ask Lucas are brought to you by Cozy....
View ArticleAsk Lucas 031: Should I Charge a Pet Fee or Pet Deposit, and How Much?
Summary: Sharon from California wants to allow pets in her rentals. However, she’s not sure what kind of pet fees or pet deposits she should ask the tenant to pay. Lucas gives his recommendation and...
View ArticleAsk Lucas 032: Must I Give the Landlord Access to Show the Property?
Summary: Trudy from Colorado is asking about the landlord’s right to access the property in order to showcase it to prospective applicants. Does she have let him in or can she force him to wait until...
View ArticleAsk Lucas 033: Am I Allowed to Collect Double Rent?
Summary: Kelly asks “am I allow to collect double rent on a property when one tenant moves out early?” It’s a question that all landlords ask themselves at one point or another. Learn what Lucas...
View ArticleAsk Lucas 034: What’s the Best Way to Calculate Income for Joint Applicants?
Summary: Joanne from Seattle is asking how to calculate the income requirement when you are screening multiple joint applicants. Do you use gross or net income when comparing to the rent amount, and...
View ArticleAsk Lucas 035: What Happens to the Lease When a Tenant Dies?
Summary: Kerry from Florida had a tenant pass away in the middle of a fixed lease term. How should she handle the remaining unpaid rent with the estate, and who should pay for all the extra marketing...
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