If you are a landlord, I wholeheartedly recommend owning and reading Nolo's "Every Landlord's Legal Guide" (9th Edition) by Marcia Steward and Attorneys Ralph Warner & Janet Portman.
I've read and looked at a lot of books dealing with real estate and landlord issues, and this is one of the best around.
This book is not about buying property.
Look elsewhere for that topic.
This book focuses on running a profitable business when you own rental property.
It will also help you protect your investment and avoid or at least minimize legal hassles.
The book contains almost 500 pages of practical advice for the landlord and also includes a CD-Rom with over 30 forms, including leases and rental agreements.
This really is a valuable book for landlords.
Chapter One focuses on screening tenants, which the book points out can be one of your most important decisions.
Next, Chapter Two assists you with preparing leases and rental agreements.
Chapter Three discusses basic rent rules such as how much you can charge, rent control, when rent is due, late charges, returned check charges, raising the rent, and related matters.
Chapter Four instructs the reader on everything you need to know about security deposits.
From there, Chapter Five provides legal information regarding discrimination.
For those that don't want to do everything themselves, Chapter Six focuses on property managers and how to hire, manage, and fire a manager for your property.
Chapter Seven relates to moving a tenant in.
This chapter provides tips on inspecting the property, move in letters, organizing tenant records and organizing income and expenses for your Schedule E.
Cotenants, Sublets, and Assignments are discussed in Chapter Eight.
A topic no landlord likes, but must deal with is the duty to repair and maintain the premises.
Chapter Nine provides what you need to know regarding this duty.
From there, Chapter Ten discusses the landlord's liability for tenant injuries from dangerous conditions.
Next, Chapter Eleven covers liability for environmental health hazards.
Continuing with liability issues, Chapter Twelve covers liability for criminal acts and activities.
The landlord's right of entry and tenants' privacy and then ending a tenancy are the topics covered in Chapters Thirteen and Fourteen.
Chapter Fifteen then covers how to return security deposits and other move-out issues.
Not ever tenant is going to be the perfect one, regardless of how well you screen.
Chapter Sixteen is an important chapter dealing with problems with tenants and how to resolve disputes without a lawyer.
Some disputes end up with terminations and evictions and that is what Chapter Seventeen provides information on.
It is a good idea for a landlord to have an attorney to help with certain matters.
Chapter Eighteen provides information on lawyers and legal research, including tips on finding a lawyer, types of fee agreements with lawyers, saving on legal fees, and other related issues.
There are two appendixes, one that contains state landlord-tenant law charts and then one that focuses on how to sue the landlord forms library on the included CD-ROM.
Regarding state laws, it is always prudent to check with your own state's laws and keep current with them.
This is a good reason to have an attorney that you can work with.
The forms on the CD-ROM are a great addition to this book.
These include forms, letters, notices, checklists, and agreements.
They are all easily adapted to fit your particular needs.
This book and CD-ROM belong on every landlord's bookshelf.
It should be read, and the forms used.
It contains the advice to help you manage your rentals as a profitable business with as little hassle as possible.
This is an excellent how to book for landlords that will save you time and money if you manage properties.