Property Management in Apex, NC

PROPERTY MANAGEMENT AND LANDLORD SERVICES IN APEX, NC

Landlord Responsibilities You May Have Overlooked

Logo for city of Apex, where you can find expert property management services

If you own real estate and decide to lease out your home in Apex, NC, congratulations: you are now a landlord in the eyes of the law. Many responsibilities come with the territory when you lease out a single-family home in Apex, NC. Some of these are easy to overlook, which is why you can benefit from having a property management team on your side.

Our Apex property management company is here to help you take care of those responsibilities well, so you can better serve your clients.

Property Management Services You May Not Realize You Need

Some duties seem straightforward, like collecting rent or finding tenants for a vacant unit. Others, however, may be less obvious. The more you learn, the more success you’ll have with your real estate investments. Let’s examine some landlord responsibilities you may have overlooked.

  1. Knowing the landlord-tenant laws: Ignorance of the law is no excuse. It’s your responsibility as a landlord to know and understand all landlord-tenant regulations for your city and state. Landlords can be (and often are) sued for not obeying their state’s laws, even if they weren’t aware they existed. While we’re not attorneys, our experience allows us to share our landlord and tenant law knowledge.
  1. Preparing a legal lease document: The lease agreement and other legal paperwork are part of a landlord’s duties. It’s your responsibility to ensure the rental contract is legally written and abides by all laws. Leasing periods, monthly rental rates, and tenant names must be clearly indicated. In some jurisdictions, legal disclosures must be included, such as security deposit details. The lease should also contain appropriate clauses, such as advising tenants to purchase renters’ insurance.
  1. The duty to deliver possession: Once a lease contract is signed, the landlord’s responsibility is to deliver possession of the rental unit to the tenant on the agreed-upon date. The unit must be in move-in condition, and any previous tenants must have vacated the premises.
  1. Implied warranty of habitability: Another obligation is to make sure the rental unit is in a safe, habitable condition. The property must not have any serious deficiencies, and any supplied appliances, fixtures, plumbing, and heating must be in good working order. The property must be free of insects and pests.
  1. Respect the tenant’s right to quiet enjoyment: According to most landlord-tenant acts, tenants have the right to quiet enjoyment. In other words, they have the right to live in their home without being disturbed by the landlord. Once a tenant has possession of a property, the landlord may not interfere with this right. Therefore, it’s the landlord’s responsibility to ensure they do not enter the rental unit without proper notice (usually 24–48 hours, except in emergencies). When a landlord enters the rental property, it must be at a reasonable time of day and for a valid reason.
  1. Completing repairs in a reasonable time frame: Tenants are responsible for reporting any needed repairs. Landlords’ responsibilities include responding to these reports and completing repairs promptly. Urgent repairs should be made immediately, while minor issues can be addressed more conveniently. But beware that unrepaired damage tends to cause more damage and encourages tenants to vacate the rental property. Block & Associates Realty can help you maintain your rental property in Apex, NC, with our preferred vendor list.
  1. Providing safety measures: It’s your duty to protect your tenants, to a point. In some jurisdictions, landlords must provide specific safety measures. These may include fire and carbon monoxide detectors, fire extinguishers, front door peepholes, deadbolt locks on exterior doors, and window locks.
  1. Reporting crime: If a landlord becomes aware of any criminal activity in one of their rental units, they must report it to authorities. For example, some landlord-tenant acts have specific laws that can find a landlord liable if their property is used for dealing or creating drugs.
  1. Responsible for property manager’s acts: An often-overlooked concern is that you can be liable for your property manager’s acts, including illegal ones. If a property manager doesn’t follow local landlord-tenant laws, the landlord can also be held responsible. Stay up-to-date on your rental property’s operations and keep a watchful eye on anyone who works for you.

Taking the Guesswork Out of Being a Landlord in Apex With Professional Help

Being a landlord involves a steep learning curve when starting, and the laws aren’t always straightforward. Taking the time to learn about your responsibilities as a landlord can mean the difference between earning a nice profit and losing money — or worse. Protect yourself by learning the laws that apply to you and surrounding yourself with a team of professionals.

Block & Associates Realty has nine full-time professionals dedicated exclusively to property management services in Apex, NC. We’ll serve as your eyes, ears, and local representative to ensure your property operates efficiently and effectively. Our goal as your representative is twofold: to protect your investment and maximize your investment return.

Our Apex, NC Property Management Services

When you partner with Block & Associates Realty for property management in Apex, you can benefit from a wide range of professional services. Some of these include:

  • Move-in and move-out property condition reports when leases begin and end
  • Year-end tax report documents
  • Collecting rent from tenants
  • Monthly income and expense statements for your records
  • Arrangement of maintenance with our vetted vendors
  • Tenant compliance with rules and regulations, including your rental agreement or any HOA agreements

We have a full-time property management team serving Apex, NC.

Contact us to schedule a consultation to discuss our property management services, so you can get professional help to protect and maximize your investment.

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