December 2020 RHA UPDATE NEWSLETTER

December 2020

A monthly newsletter published by the Rental Housing Alliance Oregon

rha est. 1927

www.rhaoregon.org

In this issue:

RHA Calendar of Events............................................page 2 President’s Message.............page 3 Allowable Fee’s.........................page 4 Dear Maintenance Men....................... ...........................................................page 5 Deals During Covid-19..........page 6 Christmas Safety Tips...........page 9 Winter Check List....................page 9 The Silly Season.....................page 10

Rental Housing Alliance Events & Classes RHA Holiday Happy Hour

•Where: Via Zoom Meeting

•When: Wednesday December 16, 2020

•Price: FREE, for members only

•Time: 6:00 pm

Main Topic:

The state of the expiring eviction moratorium and outlook of where to go from here.

Installation of Officers & Directors will also take place.

To register or for more information visit https://rhaoregon.org/event/holiday-happy-hour/ DATE

EVENT

LOCATION

TIME

12/9

Board Meeting

Zoom

4:00pm

12/16

Membership Meeting (Dinner)

Zoom

6:00pm

12/25

Office Closed

In observance of Christmas Holiday

01/01

Office Closed

In observance of New Years Holiday

01/13

Board Meeting

Zoom

INFORMATION

4:00pm

DATE

CLASSES

LOCATION

TIME

INSTRUCTORS

12/01

How to use Landlord-Reference.com

Join.me

7:00pm

Robert Collier w/Landlord-Reference.com

12/08

Online Screening Class

Webex

11:00am

Marcia Gohman w/National Tenant Network

12/09

How to use Landlord-Reference.com

Join.me

7:00pm

Robert Collier w/landlord-Reference.com

12/10

Landlording 102

Zoom

6:30pm

12/10

Online Screening Class

Webex

11:00am

Marcia Gohman w/National Tenant Network

12/17

How to Hire a Property Manager

Zoom

6:30pm

Cliff Hockley w/Bluestone & Hockley

12/17

How to use Landlord-Reference.com

Join.me

7:00pm

Robert Collier w/Landlord-Reference.com

12/21

How to use Landlord-Reference.com

Join.me

7:00pm

Robert Collier w/Landlord-Reference.com

12/29

Online Screening Class

Join.me

7:00pm

Marcia Gohman w/National Tenant Network

12/30

How to use Landlord-Reference.com

Join.me

7:00pm

Robert Collier w/Landlord-Reference.com

01/05

Online Screening Class

WebEX

11:00am

Marcia Gohman w/National Tenant Network

01/07

Online Screening Class

WebEX

7:00pm

Marcia Gohman w/National Tenant Network

01/21

Online Screening Class

WebEx

11:00am

Marcia Gohman w/National Tenant Network

01/26

Online Screening Class

WebEX

7:00pm

Marcia Gohman w/National Tenant Network

For additional class/event information visit: https://rhaoregon.org/education 2

RENTAL ALLIANCE UPDATE December 2020

www.rhaoregon.org

President’s Message Ken Schriver, RHA Oregon President

Dear friends and fellow landlords, I hope you had a great Thanksgiving holiday, even if it was only a Zoom gathering with family and friends.

I thank all of you who have been writing, calling, and emailing our state legislators as they debate the current round of proposed legislation. It has been a particularly frustrating time for small landlords across the state. As far as I am aware, ours is the only industry that has been forced to continue operating and serving our customers (tenants), whether they are able to pay or not. We must continue to demand real leadership from city councils to the state legislature to the governor’s office. “Kicking the can down the road,” is not leadership.

Although most of our members have been able to survive during the eviction moratorium, there are many who have lost a significant portion of their income and who face more losses in the next several months. They should not have to carry that burden alone. I am hopeful that when the legislature meets in December, the likely extension of the eviction moratorium will be accompanied by funds made directly available to landlords that have been impacted the most.

It seems clear to me that 2021 will bring a new normal for all of us. For me, the results of last month’s elections were moderately encouraging. In the city of Portland, anti-landlord council member Chloe Eudaly was defeated by Mingus Mapps, who will at least listen to landlord concerns. At the state level, while Democrats still hold a supermajority, they also still require cooperation from Republicans to form a quorum to conduct business. It is not much, but some of the more outrageous proposals that pop up from time to time (like rent forgiveness) will likely be held in check.

The encouraging results for potential vaccines reported by several pharmaceutical manufacturers this past month are also reason to be hopeful. Americans should have access to at least one COVID-19 vaccine by mid-2021. Until that time, we will continue to forgo our dinner meetings and in-person classes, but it will not be long before we are able to meet again in person. We will continue periodic virtual member meetings to provide you with updated information; our November meeting had good participation and provided some valuable insight into navigating the current eviction moratorium. Please join us by Zoom in December for our installation of new officers.

My term as President of Rental Housing Alliance Oregon is coming to an end. As much as I have enjoyed working on your behalf over the past two years, I am happy to be passing the reins of leadership back to Ron Garcia, whose experience and expertise is especially welcome during these challenging times. I am also happy to report that our 2021 President-Elect is Melinda McClelland, a small landlord like me and most of our membership. I hope you will support both in the coming years. Though I am stepping down as President, I will continue to support RHA’s efforts to obtain financial relief for our members who have been particularly hard-hit during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Hang in there, have a Merry Christmas, and have a Happy New Year! www.rhaoregon.org

RENTAL ALLIANCE UPDATE December 2020

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Allowable Fees Under The Landlord Tenant Act Bradley S. Kraus, Attorney at Law, Warren Allen, LLP

As a Landlord’s attorney, I’ve had the opportunity to review thousands of rental agreements. I can often tell which rental agreements came from different states or the internet, as I’ll see odd charges in them, such as “Notice Service Fee – $25.”

While this may be allowed in other states, Oregon does not have such an allowable fee. Many landlords believe that simply because a particular fee is in the rental agreement, that provides them the authority they need to charge for the same. Unfortunately, that’s only part of the discussion.

Allowable fees and Oregon statute Oregon’s fee statute, ORS 90.302, requires that any fee charged by a landlord be described in a written rental agreement. The statute is also clear in its prohibition against charging fees not described in, or as allowed by, that statute. A review of that statute shows that there is no such fee as a “Notice Service Fee,” much to the disappointment of some Landlords accustomed to different states. So what can be charged as a fee?

The allowable fees can be broken down into two categories; those that trigger upon a given event, and noncompliance fees. The fees which trigger upon a given event are standard in the industry. They include things like late rent fees, dishonored check fees (NSF charges), and early termination fees. As long as these are described in the rental agreement, it’s not often that a Landlord can run afoul of the statute on these particular fees.

The second type of fees allowed under the statute are non-compliance fees. These fees are allowed for things such as late utilities, failure to clean up pet waste, and smoking. These types of fees are often where I see Landlords slip up. For example, many Tenants often fail to pay their utilities on time. Seeing this, the Landlord will apply a “Utility Late Fee” to the Tenant’s ledger without first complying with the statutory prerequisites for doing so. The statute requires that, prior to charging a non-compliance fee, the Landlord must give the tenant a written warning notice that describes: (i) A specific noncompliance before charging a fee for a second or subsequent noncompliance for the same or similar conduct; and (ii) The amount of the fee for a second noncompliance, and for any subsequent noncompliance, that occurs within one year after the warning notice.

The failure to provide the written warning notice renders the charged fee invalid, thus requiring the Landlord to (a) reverse the fee, or face a potential claim for an improper fee, and (b) start over with a warning notice, thus delaying any real remedial conduct sought by the Landlord. It can also complicate evaluation of the ledger down the road if it is not immediately discovered, thus potentially leading to further delays in other settings (i.e., evictions).

While some Landlords prefer the non-compliance fee path towards the particular violations described in statute, many landlords will opt to pursue their For Cause Termination remedies under ORS 90.392 in lieu of charging a non-compliance fee. This is simply an easier approach and provides a quicker approach to the change in conduct sought.

The statute is clear that you must pick one or the other for a particular violation; a Landlord cannot charge a non-compliance fee and serve a For Cause Notice for the same violation. However, if the Tenant fails to pay the non-compliance fee, a Landlord’s remedy for that is . . . a For Cause Notice. Due to the shear amount of time that will have elapsed to get to that point, it is imperative that you ensure compliance with the statutory prerequisites for a non-compliance fee, in the event that you elect to charge one.

Permission to reprint granted by the Rental Housing Journal 4

RENTAL ALLIANCE UPDATE December 2020

www.rhaoregon.org

Dear Maintenance Men

by Jerry L’Ecuyer & Frank Alvarez

Dear Maintenance Men: I am interested in becoming a Maintenance Mechanic or tech.

What skills should I hone or include in my “Tool Box”?

Robin Dear Robin: That is a very good questions. The list below should be considered as the minimum needed to be a well-rounded maintenance technician that wants to be excellent at their job.

1: We believe a good maintenance mechanic needs a bit of “Detective” in them or have Problem Solving Abilities. In other words; getting to the root of the problem and not just fixing the issue at hand. Find out what caused the issue in the first place.

2: Care about the details. The details can including anything from noticing something out of place to having the right tools for the job at hand. Detail oriented means having a keen eye on what is going on around you and making sure “good enough” is NOT Good Enough. An often forgotten detail is the importance of being on time & clean up after the job.

3: Technical aptitude or technical abilities. Learn the system you are working on. Become proficient, get hands on training on systems you are unfamiliar with. Attend training programs etc.

4: Learn organizational skills. Being organized will save time, money and will create efficiency to get more out of each day.

5: Ability to work under pressure. In other words; get in, get out and get the job done quickly and correctly the first time.

6: Be versatile. Don’t be scared to try something new.

Don’t get bogged down; learn to think outside the box to find solutions. Not everything is black and white.

Dear Maintenance Men: We tried to replace an angle stop valve under the kitchen sink, but found a brass collar around the copper pipe, which traps the nut behind it. The new angle stop threads are not compatible with the old nut. What can I do? Also, how often should I routinely replace my under sink water flex lines?

Roland Dear Roland: On the first question; it is always best to remove the old collar. That is easier said than done. You cannot pull off the collar with your fingers, it is too tight. Pliers will damage your soft copper pipe and cutting the line behind the collar is OK if you have enough pipe to spare. But, in most cases the space is limited and cutting the line won’t work. The hardware or plumbing store sells a compression www.rhaoregon.org

Sleeve Puller (approx. $20.00) designed for this job and it will not damage your pipe. You can now install your new angle stop valve. An alternative once you remove the collar is to solder a male or female ½” fitting to the end of the copper pipe. Install a male or female angle stop valve and never again deal with a stubborn brass collar. If you ever need to replace the valve, just twist it off and install a new one.

On your second question about replacing under sink water lines; if any of your lines are the white plastic lines, replace them immediately, they are a flood waiting to happen. We like using the stainless steel braided flex lines. They last a long time, don’t seem as susceptible to fatigue or abuse. A way to spot a bad flex line before they leak or burst, it to look for telltale signs of rust, calcium build-up, loose or broken braids, tight kinks, brown spots or they just look bad. While you are replacing those water lines, be sure to replace the angle stop valve also.

Dear Maintenance Men: How do I get oil or grease stains out of concrete? I have both a concrete patio and a parking area with grease stains and soap and water does not get them clean.

Brenda Dear Brenda: Go to your local grocery store and pick up the cheapest brand of cat litter you can find. Spread the cat litter over the oil stained concrete and grind it in with your shoes.

Leave the litter in place for a minimum of an hour or best for 24 hours. Then sweep up the cat litter and the stain should be gone. Cat litter is an absorbent that helps draw out the oil or grease. If you have a large area to clean, you may want to go to the hardware store or industrial supply house and purchase 50 pound bags of Absorbent. The cost is a little bit more than a regular sized bag of cat litter at the supermarket.

WE NEED Maintenance Questions!!! If you would like to see your maintenance question in the “Dear Maintenance Men:” column, please send in your questions to: DearMaintenanceMen@gmail.com Bio: If you need maintenance work or consultation for your building or project, please feel free to contact us. We are available throughout Southern California. For an appointment please call Buffalo Maintenance, Inc. at 714 956-8371 Frank Alvarez is licensed contractor and the Operations Director and co-owner of Buffalo Maintenance, Inc. He has been involved with apartment maintenance & construction for over 30 years. Frankie is President of the Apartment Association of Orange County and a lecturer, educational instructor and Chair of the Education Committee of the AAOC. He is also Chairman of the Product Service Counsel. Frank can be reached at (714) 956-8371 Frankie@BuffaloMaintenance.com For more info please go to: www.

BuffaloMaintenance.com Jerry L'Ecuyer is a real estate broker. He is currently a Director Emeritus and Past President of the Apartment Association of Orange County and past Chairman of the association’s Education Committee. Jerry has been involved with apartments as a professional since 1988.

RENTAL ALLIANCE UPDATE December 2020

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What deals can be made during COVID?

By Clifford A. Hockley, President at Bluestone and Hockley Real Estate Services We are all wondering if brokers and investors can find deals during the pandemic. The answer is a resounding yes!!!

Investors, appraisers, and financial institutions are resetting their vision and policies to adjust to our new reality.

Consensus is this current environment is not going away anytime soon so we need to adjust. In addition, 1031 pressure has not abated, especially given the likelihood it might be done away with if Joe Biden gets elected. Many investors have stored up financial resources before the COVID – 19 downturn looking for a recession to profit from.

•Apartments – Especially those properties where tenants have consistently paid current rents over the last “COVID” months.

•Other apartment related considerations to consider: •Very low-income market properties are finding high rates (30-40%) of delinquency.

•Middle income units rented by predominantly white-collar tenants are seeing closer to 10% COVID-related delinquency rates. (Not as risky) •Newly constructed high-end properties may have trouble getting financing, due to high vacancy rates.

•Mid-market properties appear to be attracting more attention that those in Global Gateway markets •Tertiary market apartment properties that benefit from local diverse economies (i.e., not in college or single-employer towns) are also desirable.

•Affordable housing – where the government pays the rent – also remains desirable in present market conditions.

•Industrial

•Urban -infill properties that serve last-mile delivery applications •Retail buildings where tenants have paid the rent •Fully leased Medical Buildings •NNN buildings where the tenants have paid rents •Mobile Home Parks •Owner user buildings using SBA loans – many businesses are choosing to take advantage of a buyer-friendly transaction environment coupled with a relatively borrower-friendly interest rate environment and fine print language in the CARES act , where the SBA will cover all loan payments and fees . This relief is available to new borrowers who take out loans within six months of the President signing the bill into law.

Appraisers are making adjustments

Appraisers are getting guidance from the Appraisal Institute. As a result, they are making significant edits to their appraisals. For example, appraisers are: 1.Increasing CAP rate estimates (due to estimated lack of rental income or lack of buyer demand) which inevitably reduces property valuations 2.Adjusting income estimates for properties and adjusting vacancy rates to allow for tenants that are not paying rent given COVID conditions. (Remember that the Federal and State governments have frozen evictions during the COVID pandemic).

3.NOI adjustments (Both by estimating increased expenses and lowered income) 4.Using verbal quotes from real estate brokers that reflect a slowed real estate marketplace

1.This then gives shelter to appraisers to make additional “adjustments to lower the appraisal value” 5.Often deleting the cost approach from appraisals as not being relevant for the time being. This limits value calculations to the income approach and the comparable approach 6.Ignoring relevant near-term sale comps (with high CAP rates) 7.Increase the weighting of appraisals to the low end of the income approach To get deals done, investors and real estate brokers need to understand the current appraisal reality and adjust their deals to get them closed.

Financial institutions are making adjustments

Financial institutions are asking for the following deal alterations as part of their underwriting, to make loans:

•Higher down payments with loan to value adjustments •Higher interest rates •Larger prepayment penalties •Lending is limited to investors with significant global net worth •Lending to well-established investors with 10 + years of experience •Asking Borrower for 40% or 50% down payments 6

RENTAL ALLIANCE UPDATE December 2020

(continued on page 7) www.rhaoregon.org

CONTINUED FROM PAGE 6

•Lending only to those with existing relationships or those that are willing to bring a relationship to the bank •Asking Borrower to leave 6 – 12 months of P and I loan payments in the bank as security that can then be applied to the first set of payments

current marketplace. In the long run, most real estate investments will prove their worth.

Recovery

Brokers and investors cannot wait for a recovery. They need to complete transactions now. There is an inherent demand in the marketplace driven by aging Baby Boomers who are trying to reposition their assets. This adds to the pressure of deals that were in the hopper when COVID arrived. “When we look back on COVID, what we will see is not a wholesale change in how we live and how we do business. Instead, we’ll see that already extant trends sped up,” explains Solomon Poretsky, Chief Development Officer of SVN International. He continues, “while we’ve seen some short-term change in the market in the longterm, the fundamental reasons that people do transactions will not change.”

The CARES Act and government support for business through SBA loans, PPP loans/grants, and extended unemployment benefits have been instrumental in supporting the economy. There is not an American who does not know that we all need to open businesses and get employees back to work.

The Fed has warned that the economy cannot fully recover until the labor market gains momentum. It may be likely that economic activity will not fully pick up until a vaccine is shared with all working Americans.

“For the economy to fully recover, people will have to be fully confident, and that may have to await the arrival of a vaccine,” said Fed Chair Jerome H. Powell during a 60 Minutes Interview. He believes the economic recovery may extend through the end of 2021. https://www.forbes.com/sites/reneemorad/2020/06/12/5signs-that-suggest-another-stimulus-check-iscoming/#49031de9ce91 COVID-19 is creating a challenging environment to operate in. Buyers with cash or Sellers that can carry paper will be in high demand, to help brokers close deals.

Sellers may need to make some limited concessions if they sell now, depending on the supply/demand characteristics of their marketplace. This being driven by marketplace valuation adjustments demanded by the financial industries.

Challenging environments are ones where competent real estate brokers truly prove their value. COVID has not changed the inventory – it is still there and, to a large extent, is still occupied and generating rent. Where the change has occurred is in how lenders, sellers, and buyers come together and craft terms that work for all of them.

The assets are the same, but the market is different, and that change is affecting the deal risk and volume in the www.rhaoregon.org

RENTAL ALLIANCE UPDATE December 2020

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This material does not constitute an offer to sell nor a solicitation of an offer to buy any security. Such offers can be made only by the confidential Private Placement Memorandum (the “Memorandum”). Please read the entire Memorandum paying special attention to the risk section prior investing. IRC Section 1031, IRC Section 1033 and IRC Section 721 are complex tax codes therefore you should consult your tax and legal professional for details regarding your situation. This material is not intended as tax or legal advice. There are material risks associated with investing in real estate, Delaware Statutory Trust (DST) properties and real estate securities including illiquidity, tenant vacancies, general market conditions and competition, lack of operating history, interest rate risks, the risk of new supply coming to market and softening rental rates, general risks of owning/operating commercial and multifamily properties, short term leases associated with multi-family properties, financing risks, potential adverse tax consequences, general economic risks, development risks and long hold periods. There is a risk of loss of the entire investment principal. Past performance is not a guarantee of future results. Potential cash flow, potential returns and potential appreciation are not guaranteed. Securities offered through WealthForge Securities, LLC. Member FINRA/SIPC. Kay Properties and Investments, LLC and WealthForge Securities, LLC are separate entities. Preferred return is not guaranteed, and subject to available cash flow.

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RENTAL ALLIANCE UPDATE December 2020

www.rhaoregon.org

Christmas Safety Tips for Landlords and Their Tenants

by Sharon Vornholt Landlords are always concerned about safety issues in their investment property. But there is no better time than during the holidays, to remind your tenants of some basic steps they can take to keep themselves and the property they live in safe. Holiday decorations present many “opportunities” for landlords to encounter additional liability.

Indoor Christmas Lights Indoor Christmas lights should be replaced every three to four years for safety however most of us tend to keep them a lot longer than that. Those tiny wires can be easily damaged from normal use. Before you put any lights on the tree, they should be inspected for broken and cracked sockets, frayed, bare or damaged wires and loose connections. Never use more than three strings of lights per extension cord as this presents a definite fire hazard.

Christmas lights are relatively inexpensive so go ahead and change them out every few years for fire safety reasons.

Be sure to remind your tenants to always turn off the Christmas lights when they leave.

and shocks associated with the installation of exterior Christmas lights.

• Candles start about 11,600 fires annually which result in 1200 injuries, 150 deaths and $173,000,000 in property loss.

No one wants to get “that call”; the one telling you that someone has been injured on your property or that the house has sustained serious damage from a fire. Take a few minutes this busy holiday season to give your tenants a little reminder of these simple but important safety tips.

Sharon Vornholt is with Innovative Property Solutions, LLC – author of LouisvilleGalsRealEstateBlog. Reprinted with permission of the Apartment Owners Association of California, Inc. http://www.aoausa. com

Exterior Christmas Lights Tenants that decorate their homes with exterior lights can expose their landlord to some serious liability. Many people are injured from roof falls and shocks every year when they get up on the roof to decorate. Just walking on the roof in very cold conditions can damage the shingles on the roof. When using exterior Christmas lights, always be sure that the lights and any extension cords are certified for exterior use and that they are plugged into GFCI protected outlets.

Chimneys and Fireplaces As a landlord, if you have a property with a wood burning fireplace, be sure to have the flue cleaned annually.

Creosote occurs naturally from burning wood. If it gets to be a quarter inch thick or thicker inside the chimney, it’s a fire hazard as it can ignite and cause a chimney fire. Be sure to caution your tenants not to throw wrapping paper in the fireplace. Those materials tend to get very hot as they burn and they can cause flash fires.

Candles People love candles, but candles pose a serious fire risk if they are not handled properly. Most fires started by candles are a result of them being forgotten or being placed too close to something that is flammable. With a little caution, most all fires started by candles could be prevented.

Facts and Figures The US Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) has some sobering statistics I would like to pass onto everyone that has rental property.

• Christmas trees are responsible for 300 fires annually which result in 30 injuries, 10 deaths and $10,000,000 in property damage.

• There are 12,500 injuries every year from roof falls www.rhaoregon.org

FIND EVICTIONS STRESSFUL?

503-­‐242-­‐2312

Full FED Service First Appearances evict@landlord-­‐solutions.com Small Claims

RENTAL ALLIANCE UPDATE December 2020

9

Winter Maintenance Checklist In winter, your tenants can enjoy energy-efficient warmth and the fruits of your maintenance labors while you take a few precautionary measures on the outside.

Outdoor Tasks:

T T T T T T T

Walk around the property’s exterior and make sure the foundation vents are closed or covered.

Protect the central air conditioning unit with a cover. Remove and store window air conditioners.

Winterize sprinkler systems.

Rake last of leaves and remove storm debris as needed.

Check gutters and downspouts and clean them out if needed.

Send freezing weather reminders to tenants.

Insulate or wrap all exposed plumbing pipes.

Katie O’Neal is a Licensed Property Manager, Continuing Education Provider, Chair of the Education Committee for the RHA Oregon, and a Property Manager at Acorn Property Management in Portland, OR. She can be reached with questions or comments at Katie@AcornPM.net

The Silly Season

By: Marcia Gohman, CEO at National Tenant Network Trying to rent your place any time between Thanksgiving and the New Year? Be very careful! This is the time of year that we call, “The Silly Season”. If you think about it, who would want to move this close to Christmas? Nobody in their right mind! That’s who! Many of us already have Christmas Decorations up; we have purchased a tree or lights and other assorted decor for our homes, front porches and lawns.

So why would someone be moving this time of year?

Because they HAVE to.

Typically the applications we see from December to January 1st have the most inventive information and the most interesting Criminal reports we see all year.

On one application under “Why are you moving” “Just got out of the Canadian Navy”.. Canada has a Navy, but he was just released from prison in Washington. That’s close, right?

On another application the applicant listed her name, then we noticed a different last name in her email address and that she signed it with a slightly different name..

The applicant warned the landlord that there was “This one little thing” on her criminal report. Two Pages of little things. They apparently all blend together.

So what do we do? We take things very slowly. Pay more attention to how the application is filled out, check picture ID more carefully, and ask for a recent pay stub. If the applicant is in a BIG Hurry, you tell them it will take you five days to complete your verification process. And no matter how tempting, remember that almost everyone who offers to pay you six months’ rent in advance is a recreational pharmaceutical salesperson. (Drug Dealer) (continued on page 11) 10

RENTAL ALLIANCE UPDATE December 2020

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Silly Season CONTINUED FROM PAGE 10

Verify all telephone numbers. Just today I have found that one phone number was a family member, and one was to a friend who runs a storage facility. The applicant listed that she lived in #6. How did I find that? Google Earth. It’s is a great tool for landlords! Plug in the address and see what comes up!

Does it appear to be an apartment community? A house?

Or is it a strip mall or office complex?

Portlandmaps.com is also a wonderful instrument for digging if your applicant is from that area.

If you are given what appears to be a single-family residence address, you can find the county tax assessor and get the owner’s name and address. Many counties have a Tax Assessor web site where you can enter the address and find the owner. You still have to find the phone number; use Whitepage.com or Truepeoplesearch.com which might be even better, and I’m considering using them more than the other options.

You can also just Google the phone number.

If the applicant gives you a number for his/her employer, you can internet search it and see if the number belongs to the company or is a friend’s cell phone number. After searching up the company info I call them directly rather than the number provided. Many employers also have an email for HR on their web site.

One of my favorite tricks, when I know I’m going to talk to a friend or family member, is to call and ask about the rental I heard they have. The family member automatically says, “What?!? We don’t have rentals!”, and bingo. You have verified a fib on the application.

I know, I know. This sounds like a LOT of extra work. But it will pay off in the end. You don’t want to start out your New Year looking for lawyers, or stuck with a bad tenant, because you didn’t verify that “One little Thing”..

There are good people moving, so don’t lose hope. The fires this fall displaced a lot of people and they are looking for their new homes. Just be careful and take things slowly.

Once we get to January the company transfers go out and the better applicants re-appear. Until then, just remember.

‘Tis the Season!! www.rhaoregon.org

BOARD NOMINATIONS Installation of Officers & Directors will take place December 16, 2020 via zoom General Membership Meeting

Officers-

Ron Garcia, President Melinda McClelland, President Elect Phil Owen, Vice President Sandra Landis, Treasurer Lynne Whitney, Secretary Ken Schriver, Past President

Nominations for Directors ~ Two Year TermJerad Goughnour Jim Herman Katie O’Neal Doug Moe Jake Ramirez Violet Anderson John Sage

Directors Continuing to Serve~ One Year Term Remaining-

Tamara Collins Charles Kovas Diana Lindemann Rod Akroush Sebastian Sanchez Mark Passannante-Executive Member at Large

RENTAL ALLIANCE UPDATE December 2020

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Winter Safety

December

Along with keeping warm it is important to keep your family safe.

Tualatin Valley Fire & Rescue offers you these tips to help during the colder months!

Personal Safety:

Check your smoke and carbon monoxide alarms to ensure they are in working order!  Never operate a barbecue or portable stove indoors! Unvented, these outdoor devices produce DEADLY carbon monoxide!

Monthly FireMonthly Safety Tip Safety Tip For Multi-Family Housing



Tualatin Valley Fire & Rescue 503.649.8577

Electrical Safety:  In the event of a power outage, choose safe alternatives for lighting such as a flashlight or battery-powered lanterns... rather than candles or kerosene lanterns.

Fireplace Safety:

Make sure the area around your fireplace is clear of things that can burn, including clothing, decorations, furniture and magazines/papers.  Install a metal fireplace screen or heat-tempered glass door to prevent embers from escaping… as those embers may start a fire.  Fireplace ashes can stay warm for up to a week! So dispose of all ashes safely by using a metal can with lid and keep the metal can at least 10 feet away from your home and/or deck. Never dispose of ashes in a paper bag, box, or other container... such as a plastic garbage can or waste basket. 

General Safety: 

Keep all matches and lighters out of sight and reach from children.

For more fire safety tips, visit www.tvfr.com