http://www.american-apartment-owners-association.org/blog/2009/01/01/no-high-def-wiring-landlord-must-allow-tenants-dish/ Real Estate News, Landlord Help, and Apartment Information Thu, 19 Nov 2009 18:45:35 -0800 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.8 hourly 1 http://www.american-apartment-owners-association.org/blog/2009/01/01/no-high-def-wiring-landlord-must-allow-tenants-dish/comment-page-1/#comment-13932 AAOA - American Apartment Owners Association » Better Alternatives to Giving Sick Tenant the Boot Mon, 23 Mar 2009 20:12:28 +0000 http://www.american-apartment-owners-association.org/blog/2009/01/01/no-high-def-wiring-landlord-must-allow-tenants-dish/#comment-13932 [...] Better Alternatives to Giving Sick Tenant the Boot by Janet Portman, Inman News Q: We own a home that we rented to an elderly woman and her daughter. The mother has recently been admitted to a convalescent hospital, and the daughter, who is also sick, is having a hard time coming up with the rent (she hasn’t been able to find a roommate because the place is so dirty).   If she doesn’t pay the rent, we cannot pay the mortgage and we will end up in foreclosure.   Can we give her a notice to vacate the property because she hasn’t paid the rent, even though she’s sick? –Art B.   A: You are within your rights to terminate this tenancy if the rent remains unpaid. But there may be steps you can take that could avert that eventuality.   First, if you believe that the property’s condition is the reason your tenant has not been able to find a roommate, discuss this with the tenant. Perhaps circumstances surrounding her mother’s illness and move have overwhelmed her, making it hard to keep on top of the housekeeping. You might consider helping her towards a fresh start, by paying for a housecleaning service to thoroughly clean the unit. Of course, your tenant will have to follow through with good housekeeping habits, otherwise a roommate who is brought in when all is clean and neat will leave when conditions deteriorate, and you’ll all be back to where you started.   Second, call your local social services agency. Your tenant may qualify for rent assistance (perhaps as a Section 8 recipient). If you don’t already accept Section 8, you’ll want to look into it. Your county may also have direct aid programs that she would qualify for, particularly if she is significantly ill (or legally disabled).   Finally, try to learn whether your tenant has other family members who might help out. Often, families are unaware of dire conditions when the person at risk is too proud, or afraid, to contact them. Though you don’t want to get into the middle of a family drama, you could at least pass this information on to the relevant social services agency, who might get involved.    Janet Portman is an attorney and managing editor at Nolo. She specializes in landlord/tenant law and is co-author of Every Landlord’s Legal Guide and Every Tenant’s Legal Guide. She can be reached at  janet@inman.com.   What’s your opinion? Leave your comments below or send letter to the editor. To contact the writer, click the byline at the top of the story. Copyright 2009 Janet Portman   See Janet Portman’s feature, No High-Def Wiring: Landlord Must Allow Tenant’s Dish.   [...] [...] Better Alternatives to Giving Sick Tenant the Boot by Janet Portman, Inman News Q: We own a home that we rented to an elderly woman and her daughter. The mother has recently been admitted to a convalescent hospital, and the daughter, who is also sick, is having a hard time coming up with the rent (she hasn’t been able to find a roommate because the place is so dirty).   If she doesn’t pay the rent, we cannot pay the mortgage and we will end up in foreclosure.   Can we give her a notice to vacate the property because she hasn’t paid the rent, even though she’s sick? –Art B.   A: You are within your rights to terminate this tenancy if the rent remains unpaid. But there may be steps you can take that could avert that eventuality.   First, if you believe that the property’s condition is the reason your tenant has not been able to find a roommate, discuss this with the tenant. Perhaps circumstances surrounding her mother’s illness and move have overwhelmed her, making it hard to keep on top of the housekeeping. You might consider helping her towards a fresh start, by paying for a housecleaning service to thoroughly clean the unit. Of course, your tenant will have to follow through with good housekeeping habits, otherwise a roommate who is brought in when all is clean and neat will leave when conditions deteriorate, and you’ll all be back to where you started.   Second, call your local social services agency. Your tenant may qualify for rent assistance (perhaps as a Section 8 recipient). If you don’t already accept Section 8, you’ll want to look into it. Your county may also have direct aid programs that she would qualify for, particularly if she is significantly ill (or legally disabled).   Finally, try to learn whether your tenant has other family members who might help out. Often, families are unaware of dire conditions when the person at risk is too proud, or afraid, to contact them. Though you don’t want to get into the middle of a family drama, you could at least pass this information on to the relevant social services agency, who might get involved.    Janet Portman is an attorney and managing editor at Nolo. She specializes in landlord/tenant law and is co-author of Every Landlord’s Legal Guide and Every Tenant’s Legal Guide. She can be reached at  janet@inman.com.   What’s your opinion? Leave your comments below or send letter to the editor. To contact the writer, click the byline at the top of the story. Copyright 2009 Janet Portman   See Janet Portman’s feature, No High-Def Wiring: Landlord Must Allow Tenant’s Dish.   [...]

]]> http://www.american-apartment-owners-association.org/blog/2009/01/01/no-high-def-wiring-landlord-must-allow-tenants-dish/comment-page-1/#comment-11009 » No High-Def Wiring? Landlord Must give Tenants a Choice Mon, 12 Jan 2009 20:25:29 +0000 http://www.american-apartment-owners-association.org/blog/2009/01/01/no-high-def-wiring-landlord-must-allow-tenants-dish/#comment-11009 [...] found this question on the American Apartments Owners Association (AAOA) submitted by Janet Portman of Inman News. If you live in an older apartment building and are [...] [...] found this question on the American Apartments Owners Association (AAOA) submitted by Janet Portman of Inman News. If you live in an older apartment building and are [...]

]]> http://www.american-apartment-owners-association.org/blog/2009/01/01/no-high-def-wiring-landlord-must-allow-tenants-dish/comment-page-1/#comment-10697 Greg Smart Sat, 03 Jan 2009 00:07:43 +0000 http://www.american-apartment-owners-association.org/blog/2009/01/01/no-high-def-wiring-landlord-must-allow-tenants-dish/#comment-10697 The FCC rules regarding tenant rights to have sat. dishes does not mean landlords must allow dishes to be installed. The dish must be allowed to be installed in a space that the tenant specifically has control over in accordance with their contract. In other words, a dish may not be allowed by the landlord in any common area such as a roof, common ground, side of a building etc... The FCC rules regarding tenant rights to have sat. dishes does not mean landlords must allow dishes to be installed. The dish must be allowed to be installed in a space that the tenant specifically has control over in accordance with their contract. In other words, a dish may not be allowed by the landlord in any common area such as a roof, common ground, side of a building etc…

]]> http://www.american-apartment-owners-association.org/blog/2009/01/01/no-high-def-wiring-landlord-must-allow-tenants-dish/comment-page-1/#comment-10687 Lisa Fri, 02 Jan 2009 20:46:20 +0000 http://www.american-apartment-owners-association.org/blog/2009/01/01/no-high-def-wiring-landlord-must-allow-tenants-dish/#comment-10687 We have not allowed Satellite at our properties because of the poor installation done by satellite installers in the past. This included breaking screens in order to get wires in through the windows, letting wires hang over other tenants' windows and into the yard (making mowing difficult to impossible), drilling holes into the roof to mount dishes, and then when the tenant moves out and no longer wants satellite, we are stuck with an outdated dish on our roof and can't remove it without having to patch holes. Our buildings do boast other good other cable options that work just fine and do not damage the building or the looks of the building. We have not allowed Satellite at our properties because of the poor installation done by satellite installers in the past. This included breaking screens in order to get wires in through the windows, letting wires hang over other tenants’ windows and into the yard (making mowing difficult to impossible), drilling holes into the roof to mount dishes, and then when the tenant moves out and no longer wants satellite, we are stuck with an outdated dish on our roof and can’t remove it without having to patch holes. Our buildings do boast other good other cable options that work just fine and do not damage the building or the looks of the building.

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