Property Management and Renter Resources Web Guide

The purpose of this guide is to provide information for those interested in real estate property management and for tenants who solicit services from these managers and owners.  The sources listed on this guide are broken up into three groups: Property Management Associations, Property Management Resources, and Tenant Resources.  While some of the sources below offer information that is state-specific, the sources are of a national scope.  Primarily, the sources for the owners provide information related to tenant screening, ethical guidelines, legal issues, and forums.  The tenants sources section of this guide, however, deal mostly with tenant rights and obligations.

Property Management Associations:

• BOMA International – The National Association of Building Owners and Managers presents 91 local associations throughout the United States and ten affiliates in Australia, Brazil, Canada, Finland, Indonesia, Japan, Korea, the Philippines(2) and South Africa. BOMA's 16,500-plus members own or manage more than nine billion square feet of commercial properties in North America.  The organization is a primary source of information on office building development, leasing, building operating costs, energy consumption patterns, local and national building codes, legislation, occupancy statistics and technological developments.

• Institute of Real Estate Management – A membership organization, IREM is a professional real estate management association serving both the multi-family and commercial real estate sectors. With 81 U.S. chapters, eight international chapters, and several other partnerships around the globe, IREM is an international organization that serves as an advocate on issues affecting the real estate management industry.

• Landlord Association.org – This site is for landlords, real estate investors, property owners, and property managers.  It is a free site that provides services related to news, information, ideas, knowledge, and resources.

• National Association of Independent Landlords – This is a pay, membership site that offers services for landlords.  Some of the services offered are: Credit checks on possible tenants, ability to report delinquent tenants to credit bureaus, collection of funds, many rental forms, and access to state laws.

• National Association of Residential Property Managers – NARPM a membership organization made up of individuals who manage single-family and small residential properties.  Its mission is to support the professional and ethical practices of rental home management through networking, education and certification.

• Property Management Association – PMA's mission is to promote knowledge and education of the property management industry. PMA sponsors monthly meetings featuring speakers and topics on a diverse range of issues from responding to the shake out in the telecommunications industry to the current state of the property management profession. PMA also offers a series of accredited seminars on practical and topical issues such as how to save money on utilities or respond to the latest environmental mandates.

Property Management Resources

• Landlord411 – This is a pay site that offers services for landlords.  Some of the respective services are: Tenant screening, landlord forms, landlord training, real estate articles and news, chat rooms, and debt collection.  There are also links for: tenant laws, property management, vacancy-related issues, real estate investing, landlord maintenance, and an attorney directory.

• The Landlord Portal – This large membership site offers services related to: tenant screening, credit checks, property management news, rental postings for free, membership forums, and legal guides.

• The Landlord Protection Agency – This is both a free and pay site.  This resource focuses on landlord education on tenant matters. Some of the services provided are: a lease format and other important forms, credit reports, and the a “dead beat” database.

• The Landlord’s Resource Directory – This is a pay service that offers forms and educational products for landlords and property managers that will enhance their ability to develop a successful and professional property management business.

• PostYourProperty.com – This web site allows anyone to post a property for sale or rent.  It can be searched by state.  It also allows the user to search for properties by: foreclosures, home valuation, new homes, and realtors.

• Property Trek World – This is a “consumer site with articles, property search, realtor directory, and calculators,” and it is a place were a user can find information on buying, selling, and financing property.  There is also a forum where users can ask questions and contribute with responses to “real world” problems.

• The Rent Check Credit Bureau – This is a pay service specializing in tenant screening.  It offers a comprehensive list of products regarding previous, current and potential tenants in both the residential and commercial markets. A Tenant's Credit and Tenancy information are provided in a timely and accurate manner.

Tenant Resources

• Fair Housing First – Supported by HUD, Fair Housing Accessibility FIRST is an initiative designed to promote compliance with the Fair Housing Act design and construction requirements. The program offers comprehensive and detailed instruction programs, useful online web resources, and a toll-free information line for technical guidance and support.

• Free Advice: Real Estate Law-Landlord Tenant Information – This free site offers explanations of legal issues related to renting.  A user may select a topic or find laws that are applicable to a specific state.  Some of the issues covered are: General questions, leases, evictions, deposits, multiple tenants, environmental problems, squatter’s rights, rent increase and control, repairs, and discrimination.

• Hud.gov: Renting Page – This site provides information related to HUD rental assistant programs, such as: public housing, vouchers, affordable housing locators, contact information for the housing counseling agency, tenants’ rights and responsibilities, security deposits, and other helpful tips and advice related to renting.

• National Association of the Deaf: Landlord and Tenant Rights of Deaf Individuals – This web page of the National Association of the Deaf provides information and resources related to tenants rights and news.

• National Fair Housing Advocate – Housing and civil rights advocates can use federal civil rights requirements to influence government agencies' implementation of housing programs and increase housing choice for protected classes and low-income tenants.

• NLIHC: National Low Income Housing Coalition – The National Low Income Housing Coalition is dedicated to ending America's affordable housing crisis. This organization’s focus is on those with the most serious housing problems, the lowest income households.  This organization’s website provides information relate to: news and issues, publications and reports, and lists of other resources.

• Nolo.com: Renter’s Rights – This page of Nolo.com covers renter’s rights, and it includes issues such as: getting a security deposit back, renter’s rights and minor repairs, renting a place with multiple renters, privacy, evictions, and leases.

• Rent Law.Com – This National Landlord Tenant guide offers state-specific legal information related to rental properties for both the tenant and the landlord.  It also provides a search engine that locates properties for rent in specific locations.  Membership is free, and it covers areas such as: normal wear and tear issues, renter’s insurance, security deposits, section 8, housing vouchers, evictions.

• WATCH Tenant Advocacy – This is a guide of an advocacy organization that covers tenants rights and issues related to: evictions, deposits, lead paint, leases and changes, utilities, section 8, and other tenant-related problems.