March 2018
Rental Housing Journal Valley
3. RHAO President’s Message – A Letter to Mayor Wheeler 6. The Outdoor Furniture Market is Booming! 7. Dear Maintenance Men
EUGENE · SALEM ·ALBANY · CORVALLIS WWW.RENTALHOUSINGJOURNAL.COM • PROFESSIONAL PUBLISHING, INC
6 Types of Fencing for Your Rental Property
F
encing for your rental property is the maintenance checkup this week, provided by Keepe, who reports getting a record number of repair requests from property managers and tenants about weather-damaged and broken fences this winter. When it comes to installing a fence on your rental property the kind of fencing you choose can make a serious difference on your finances, maintenance and most of all, the safety of your tenants and your property. Broken fencing can be an inconvenient and time-consuming expense. Being prepared against costly last-minute repairs is possible, and it begins with knowing how to best protect your investment. Different kinds of fencing materials have different maintenance needs, which are fundamental to explore for the purpose of selecting which fencing option really is best for both your needs and expectations. Wooden fences are a traditional favorite and have historically been an iconic component of American homes everywhere. This is likely due to the fact that wood is a widely available material, and a great number of varieties - especially pine and cedar, two of the most commonly used for fencing - are rather inexpensive. Different cuts, grains, colorations, staining treatments and painting styles make wooden fences very versatile as they are easy to customize to match homes and gardens as desired. The main downside with wooden fencing is the fact that it requires regular maintenance work to both last and look appealing: it can be severely damaged by weather, vegetation and parasites. The best available way of protecting wooden fencing is ensuring that the wood is regularly treated by a professional, who can apply sealants, stains and preservative coatings. A pricier option, “Pressure Treated” (PT) fences, are made with wood that has been thoroughly treated with preservative chemicals when manufactured, and generally come with special warranties. ...continued on page 8 Professional Publishing Inc., PO Box 6244 Beaverton, OR 97007
T
Two Portland Landlords Resign from Rental Services
wo Portland landlords have resigned from the Rental Services Commission in protest after Mayor Ted Wheeler flip-flopped on his position about small landlords and Portland’s relocation ordinance, according to reports. Wheeler now wants to remove the current exemption for small landlords who own only one property. The reloca-
tion ordinance requires landlords to pay moving expenses if they evict a tenant for no-cause or increase rent more than 10 percent. One of the landlords who resigned, according to the Portland Tribune, is professional property manager Ron Garcia. He is also president of Rental Housing Alliance Oregon. It represents approximate-
ly 1,900 landlords, 62 percent of whom own one to four units. “The people I represent feel betrayed. I can’t continue to serve on the commission in good conscience. That would make it look like the landlord point of view is being considered, which it isn’t,” Garcia told ...continued on page 7
Can a Landlord Say no Guns in My Apartments? by John Triplett
G
enerally a private landlord can make a decision about whether to say “no guns in my apartments,” unless a state forbids landlords from banning guns in apartments or rental property, according to Denny Dobbins, general legal counsel and vice president of CrimShield, Inc. State laws vary on the issue of what landlords can mandate regarding saying “no guns in my apartments,” and gun possession in general by tenants in privately owned rental properties. Landlords and property managers need to be aware of whether their state or local government has specific laws, Dobbins said in an interview with Rental Housing Journal. Only four states have specific statutes laws regarding guns in apartments and rental properties: • Minnesota says a landlord cannot restrict the lawful carry or possession of firearms by tenants or their guests Minnesota Statute 624.714• Tennessee: A private landlord can prohibit tenants, including those who hold handgun carry permits, from possessing firearms within a leased premises. Such a prohibition may be imposed through a clause in the lease. Tennessee Statute § 39-171307(b). PRSRT STD US Postage PAID Portland, OR Permit #5460
• Virginia public housing prohibits landlords from restrictions on gun possession for tenants – Virginia Rental Housing Act 1974 Tennessee 55-248.9.6. • Wisconsin has a complicated maze of where a weapon can and cannot be possessed. Wis. Stat. § 175.60(21)(b). All the other states are generally silent on the issue, Dobbins said, meaning that private housing providers can choose
what they want to do on the issue. California, Arizona, Colorado, Oregon, Utah and Washington are five of the states that are silent. For instance, Virginia law says public landlords cannot use a prohibition clause in their lease, and it does not require that a gun-free zone sign be applied or at the property. “Now in Minnesota they have a different law. Generally, private landlords may ...continued on page 4
Text REALESTATE-ROI to 44222 to receive a digital copy of this year's Real Estate Opportunities in Investing (ROI) Finding Investing Success in Today's Housing Market