Every Landlord's Legal Guide: Leases & Rental Agreements, Deposits, Rent Rules, Liability, Discrimination, Property Managers, Privacy, Repairs & ... (Every Landlord's Legal Guide, 1998) [Paperback]

Marcia Stewart (Author), Janet Portman (Author), Ralph Warner (Author), Ralph E. Warner (Author)

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com Review

Anyone who has ever been a landlord knows that the rental business is tightly regulated. As the authors of Every Landlord's Legal Guide point out, "a landlord either knows and follows the law or doesn't stay in business long." This book clearly outlines what the law requires of a landlord and, just as importantly, offers advice on how to be conscientious yet profitable. This useful book is filled with helpful information on finding good tenants, agreements and leases, liability issues, and even terminations and evictions. The advice is extremely thorough. For example, the chapter on the landlord's maintenance duties contains information on who is responsible for minor repairs, ways to avoid problems by instituting a preventive-maintenance program, and even possible tenant responses to landlord negligence. The book is rounded out with a chapter on finding a lawyer and an appendix of state laws that may affect your business. Dozens of sample forms are included both as blank hard copies in the book and as templates on the enclosed disk. This book is extremely user-friendly: Stilted legalese is translated into simple English, handy icons highlight particular points in the text, and sidebars provide in-depth analysis on a variety of issues. The authors maintain that success is based on "choosing tenants carefully, keeping good tenants happy, teaching mediocre tenants how to improve and getting rid of bad tenants by applying policies that are strict, fair and legal." This book will help you do just that. --C.B. Delaney

Product Details

• Paperback: 496 pages
• Publisher: Nolo; 3rd Bk&Dsk edition (November 1998)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0873374711
• ISBN-13: 978-0873374712
• Product Dimensions: 10.7 x 8.4 x 1.2 inches
• Shipping Weight: 2.8 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 4.9 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (8 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,363,972 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

84 of 85 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars I couldn't recommend this book ENOUGH!, March 3, 2000

By A Customer

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Every Landlord's Legal Guide: Leases & Rental Agreements, Deposits, Rent Rules, Liability, Discrimination, Property Managers, Privacy, Repairs & ... (Every Landlord's Legal Guide, 1998) (Paperback)

This book has helped through every step of buying my first investment property. It's like having your own professional standing over your shoulder, reminding you about every detail of every step. The section on insurance alone is completely priceless, pointing out that a landlord needs not just property loss coverage but also personal liability. And not just physical liability, but coverage of potential slander, libel, discrimination, unlawful eviction, invasion of privacy suits... And don't forget loss of rents! It's that kind of detail that maybe someone who's done this before would call 'basic.' But I admit: I am no pro, yet when I called an insurance agent and explained what I wanted coverage for, he said to me,

56 of 56 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Exactly what I was looking for. Encompassing, but not vague., October 29, 1999

By 

James W. Miller (Huntington West Virginia) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Every Landlord's Legal Guide: Leases & Rental Agreements, Deposits, Rent Rules, Liability, Discrimination, Property Managers, Privacy, Repairs & ... (Every Landlord's Legal Guide, 1998) (Paperback)

Very Good. The author has done a great job of discussing many legal pitfalls of rental property, and how to avoid them. I would highly recommend this book to anyone interested in becoming a landlord. The book provides everything from preventive measures when screening prospective tenants, to keeping good tenants, to removing poor tenants. It explores the many rights and responsibilities you have as a landlord. Explinations of laws are written in a no nonsence format. A Must Have.

55 of 59 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars I couldn't recommend this book ENOUGH!!!, February 27, 2001

By 

Po (Edison, NJ United States) - See all my reviews

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Every Landlord's Legal Guide: Leases & Rental Agreements, Deposits, Rent Rules, Liability, Discrimination, Property Managers, Privacy, Repairs & ... (Every Landlord's Legal Guide, 1998) (Paperback)

This book has helped through every step of buying my first investment property. It's like having your own professional standing over your shoulder, reminding you about every detail of every step. The section on insurance alone is completely priceless, pointing out that a landlord needs not just property loss coverage but also personal liability. And not just physical liability, but coverage of potential slander, libel, discrimination, unlawful eviction, invasion of privacy suits... And don't forget loss of rents! It's that kind of detail that maybe someone who's done this before would call 'basic.' But I admit: I am no pro, yet when I called an insurance agent and explained what I wanted coverage for, he said to me, "Um, you've done this before, haven't you?" Thank you, nolo!