Washington DC property managers should always be thinking about how to improve their rental properties to increase revenue and interest in potential tenants. In 2018, the best way to improve your rental property is to improve the environment. Renters are excited by sustainability, so whatever renovations you can make on your rental property to make it more eco-friendly, the more interest your rental property will generate. Here are 5 sustainable housing trends that should be on property managers’ radar.

Smart Homes

Creating a smart home does not necessarily mean completely revamping your rental property. There are small, easy ways to give your rental property smart home elements without completely re-doing the house. In fact, some smart home changes require zero renovation. All you have to do is replace certain products in your home with their smart alternatives. Automated thermostats are an excellent and sustainable feature that allows tenants to regulate the temperature in the rental property from their smart home. With an automated thermostat, renters can make the most out of their HVAC systems, so they don’t waste energy cooling or heating air when they are out of the house. Automated security systems are another great way to go. These will attract safety-concerned tenants and make home security easy to manage.

Water Filtration

Bottled water is an environmental atrocity. Since bottled water technically is no more filtered than tap water, the national dependence on the bottled water makes no sense. Invest in a water filtration system and advertise it to your tenants so that they know there is no longer a need for bottled water.

Renewable Energy Systems

Renewable energy systems are becoming more and more prevalent. Solar panels are an excellent way to power your rental property. While this sort of a sustainability upgrade will take a big chunk of change up front, it will save money in the long haul since you will be generating your own power. Not only that, many homeowners and rental property owners are switching all of their gas appliances over to digital appliances. If you can spring for solar panels or some kind of wind-generated energy system, go for it. The investment will pay off in the long run.

Sustainable Landscaping

Originally, green, grassy lawns were a way of showing off wealth. They were a way of saying “Oh, look how rich I am, I can afford to completely waste this property rather than use it for farming.” Now, the green grass and white picket fence combination feel outdated and overly traditional. Instead of planting the same old grass with the highly structured flower beds, opt for plants that grow naturally in your area. This will save water and allow you to cut back on fertilizer and pesticides. Since sprinkling chemicals onto the Earth are not usually the best practice as far as sustainability goes, this is definitely a great idea.

Net-zero Homes

Net-zero homes are the next big thing. In fact, in California, all new-build homes will have to be net-zero by 2020. Net-zero means that your rental property will create at least as much energy as it uses, therefore using zero energy when energy spent and energy created are combined.

Need Help Finding Tenants?

Once you have upgraded your rental property with all the best sustainability trends, you will want to get renters inside the property as soon as possible. The best way to do this is to get professional help. Property management companies can handle the tenant finding and screening process. At Keyrenter Washington DC, we’ll help you get your rental property occupied as quickly as possible so you can make the most out of your rental property.

Being a landlord means you have a large set of responsibilities and tasks to undertake. One of which is dealing with tenant disputes and problems, that may lead to an eviction notice. Tenant screening is important and does go a long way to help you find quality tenants. However, even with all the screening and your best efforts, there can still be times when you have to prepare an eviction notice. Eviction may feel harsh, but it is the nature of the business. If someone is not able to pay on time or cannot pay consistently, it is time to remove them from the property. Here are some tips that will help you understand how to prepare an eviction notice.

Tip # 1 – Research Utah Eviction Laws

In Tooele, eviction laws are the same as the rest of the state. There are specific rules and procedures that must be followed when evicting a tenant. If landlords fail to follow the correct eviction process, the eviction may not be valid. Before you even sign a lease agreement with tenants, go over the eviction law and make sure they are in full agreement with the protocol that will be followed if they violate payment agreements.

 

Tip # 2 – Provide Notice of Termination with Cause

If you plan on evicting someone, you need to have cause to do so. Legal cause in Utah is defined by a tenant’s failure to pay rent or violates the rental or lease agreement. If the landlord does have the legal right to evict the tenant, they can terminate the tenancy. The tenant must receive a three-day notice. The notice needs it includes the following information:

• • Notice of eviction statement

 

• • Reason for eviction notice

 

• Statement of action the tenant must do to remain in the property

If the tenant fails to reply to the notice and they do not comply with the eviction notice, landlords can then file an eviction lawsuit against the tenant.

 

Tip # 3 – Cite the Reasons for Eviction

The reasons why an individual can be evicted vary based on what you have in your original agreement. If you find the tenant is subletting the rental unit without permission, you have a legal right to evict. Some other common reasons include the following;

• • Damage to the property or property surrounding the unit

 

• • Maintaining an illegal business in the unit

 

• • Creating a nuisance and continued nuisance issues after warnings

 

• Committing criminal acts at the rental unit

What happens to landlords that want to evict a tenant without cause? This area can become tricky for landlords, but in most cases, a landlord can legally evict someone by giving them a written notice to move or they can wait until their tenancy ends.

Month-to-month evictions require a 15-day notice to move. The landlord needs to provide a written notice that informs the tenant when their residency is ending and you need them to move out of the unit by that time.

 

Tip # 4 – Provide the Notice

Once you know you need to evict a tenant after you have tried to reason with them, use a prepared “notice of eviction” document. You can download them online and simply fill out a few of the details before you place the notice on the door and send it via certified mail. Some things that must be included in the notice include:

• • Deadline date to pay rent or move

 

• Include the total amount due

The notice needs to be provided three days prior to filing with the courts. Use a return receipt requested certified mail letter to use as documentation if you do end up filing in court.

 

Tip # 5 – File Your Eviction in Court

You will need to pay a fee to file an eviction notice in court. The clerk will schedule a court hearing date and will notify the tenant. You need to bring your certified mail receipt with you to show that you have given at least the required three days prior to filing.

 

Tip # 6- Show up to Court

When you are preparing for court, you need to take the time to gather certain evidence that you need to use on your behalf in court. Here are some essential documents to bring:

• • Lease agreement

 

• • Bounced check

 

• • Records of all payments and missed payments

 

• • Records of all communication between landlords and tenants

 

• Date and proof of the certified mail notice

The court will review all information and listen to both parties before making their decision.

 

Tip # 7 – Evicting the Tenant

If the court sides in your favor and it is time to evict the tenant, you will need to adhere to the set amount of time to allow them to leave the property voluntarily. If they fail to leave by this time, you will need to get someone from the Sheriff’s office to escort them from the premises.

Evictions can be messy and stressful. One of the issues people find is how frustrating it can be to end up paying thousands of dollars in legal fees and trying to collect on the past-due rent. Due to the nature of evictions, it is a wise idea to consider hiring a property management firm to help you deal with your tenants. If you need additional tips and help on how to prepare an eviction notice, call Keyrenter in Tooele today!