Management & Maintenance

This department of Rental Housing Journal is your source for property management and maintenance information. Whether you’re an independent landlord, portfolio manager, on-site community manager, leasing agent or apartment maintenance professional, the site is dedicated to bringing tips, best practices and information to help make your job easier and keep you up to date and educated.

Will the Spokane ordinance providing grace period for renters with a declared emergency spread to Seattle landlords?

Oh By The Way Landlord, ‘You Have To Pay Everything Else’

Will the Spokane ordinance providing grace period for renters with a declared emergency spread to Seattle landlords? KIRO host John Curley had a warning for Seattle listeners after the Spokane City Council passed a new...
A Missouri landlord is suing the City of St. Joseph, Missouri over the city’s rental property inspections ordinance.

Are Rental Property Inspections Warrantless Searches?

A Missouri landlord is suing the City of St. Joseph, Missouri over the city’s rental property inspections ordinance. Vince Shipp, Janeen Shipp and Multi Midwest Properties own seven properties in St. Joseph and are challenging...
Portland’s Housing and Permitting Committee spent about two hours Sept. 15 reviewing the city’s mandatory renter-relocation policy.

Portland Weighs Lowering Landlord Relocation-Payment Trigger To 5% Rent Increase

Portland’s Housing and Permitting Committee spent about two hours Sept. 15 reviewing the city’s mandatory renter-relocation policy. Tenant advocates asked the city to make landlords pay relocation assistance when raising rent by 5% or more,...
California research says pet policy information costs housing providers, renters time and money leaving renters without critical information

Pet Policy Information Gaps Cost Landlords And Renters Time And Money

New California research shows pet policy information costs housing providers and renters time and money routinely leaves renters without critical information about pet policies until after they have invested time and money pursuing a...
The Seattle City Council has banned most rental fees starting July 2027 and now the rest of the state is asking, "What about us?"

What Seattle’s Rental Fee Ban Means For The Rest Of The State

The Seattle City Council has banned most rental fees starting July 2027 and now the rest of the state is asking, "What about us?" By Aaron Kirk Douglas Seattle's City Council voted unanimously in August to...
In property management when talk about screening tenants, deposits, leases but not enough about the "when" in property management.

Don’t Take “When” For Granted In Property Management

In property management when talk about screening tenants, deposits, leases but not enough about the "when" in property management we sometimes take for granted. By David Pickron When we talk about property management, we usually talk...
Washington Governor Bob Ferguson added counties to the wildfire emergency and extended key housing protections landlords need to be aware of.

Washington Governor Keeps Two Housing Protections In Place

Washington Governor Bob Ferguson expanded the number of counties covered by Washington’s wildfire emergency adding five more counties and extending key housing protections landlords need to be aware of. The amendment added Benton, Columbia, Grant,...
Washington Governor Bob Ferguson added counties to the wildfire emergency and extended key housing protections landlords need to be aware of.

Spokane’s Proposed Fire Relief Ordinance Has A Documentation Problem

Wednesday night action planned on Spokane's proposed emergency fire relief ordinance which has a documentation problem. By Aaron Kirk Douglas The Spokane City Council votes Wednesday night on an emergency fire ordinance, and the debate is...
The upward trend in rental increases continued in August as the national median rent rose again for the seventh straight month

Another Month Of Rent Increases In August

The upward trend in rental increases continued in August as the national median rent rose again for the seventh straight month, according to the September report from Apartment List. “While modest, this month’s increase is...
California landlords will have to put all pet policies into writing and provide to tenants after the California pet policy law was signed

California Legislature Passes Historic Pet Policy Transparency Act

California pet policy transparency act won bi-partisan approval and creates greater transparency at the beginning of the rental process for tenants and property managers. By Kathryn Dunn California has passed an historic pet policy transparency act,...