Accounting and taxes
Schedule E expense categories for rental property, line by line
Every Schedule E expense line for a rental property, what goes on it, and how to keep your books so the return is a copy job, not a project.
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Run your properties with less work
Plain guides for owners and managers of apartment buildings: rent, books, leases, repairs and the tools that do the busywork.
Written by the DoorKeeping team at DoorRaise
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Latest articles
Rent and payments
How much can you raise rent in California or Washington? The cap, worked out
Rent and payments
Who owes the security deposits after an apartment building is sold?
Rent and payments
Can a landlord shut off utilities if a tenant does not pay rent?
Rent and payments
RUBS utility billing: how do you split one water bill among apartments?
Rent and payments
How do you stop scammers from redirecting your tenants' rent payments?
Rent and payments
Do California landlords have to offer tenants rent reporting to credit bureaus?
Rent and payments
Can a California landlord require tenants to pay rent online?
Rent and payments
Florida security deposit notice: what landlords must send within 30 days
Rent and payments
What can a landlord do when a military tenant does not pay rent?
Accounting and taxes
Can you write off the old roof when you replace it on a rental building?
Accounting and taxes
I forgot to depreciate my rental property for several years. How do I catch up?
Accounting and taxes
What are the 1031 exchange deadlines when you sell an apartment building?
Accounting and taxes
Does the 3.8% net investment income tax apply to rental income?
Accounting and taxes
Can you take a Section 179 deduction on apartment appliances and improvements?
Accounting and taxes
Are repairs you make before a rental building is ready to rent deductible?
Accounting and taxes
How do you handle a casualty loss on a rental building after a fire or storm?
Accounting and taxes
Does a rental property LLC with two or more members have to file Form 1065?
Accounting and taxes
How much does each rental property LLC cost per year in state fees?
Accounting and taxes
Do landlords pay sales tax or gross receipts tax on apartment rent?
Accounting and taxes
What are the tax rules for renting an apartment in your building to a family member?
Accounting and taxes
Do landlords have to make quarterly estimated tax payments on rental income?
Leasing and tenants
Can a landlord end a tenancy without a reason in Washington, Oregon or New York?
Leasing and tenants
How long does an eviction take in Florida, and what happens at each step?
Leasing and tenants
Can a tenant break a lease because of domestic violence, and what must the landlord do?
Leasing and tenants
How should a landlord respond to a reasonable accommodation request?
Leasing and tenants
What does the Section 8 tenancy addendum change in your lease?
Leasing and tenants
What can a landlord do with belongings a tenant leaves behind?
Leasing and tenants
How do you legally serve a notice to a tenant, and does email count?
Leasing and tenants
What counts as landlord retaliation after a tenant complains?
Leasing and tenants
Can you turn an apartment building into 55-and-older housing?
Leasing and tenants
How much can a landlord charge for a pet deposit and pet rent?
Leasing and tenants
What happens to the lease and belongings when a tenant dies?
Maintenance and turns
Do landlords need EPA lead-safe certification to do their own repairs?
Maintenance and turns
Do landlords have to provide air conditioning?
Maintenance and turns
How do Section 8 unit inspections work under NSPIRE, and what must owners fix?
Maintenance and turns
Can a subcontractor put a lien on your rental after you paid the contractor? The Florida rules
Maintenance and turns
How long does an insurer have to handle an apartment building claim in Texas and Florida?
Maintenance and turns
Can you still repair R-22 and R-410A air conditioners in your rentals, or should you replace them?
Maintenance and turns
Does an apartment building need annual backflow testing?
Maintenance and turns
What does the Virginia Graeme Baker Act require for an apartment complex pool?
Maintenance and turns
What must New York City landlords do for the annual window guard and lead paint notice?
Maintenance and turns
What does NYC Local Law 152 require for gas piping inspections, and when is yours due?
Maintenance and turns
What does the Massachusetts lead law require of landlords when a child under six moves in?
Running your portfolio
Will moving my apartment building into an LLC trigger the loan's due-on-sale clause?
Running your portfolio
How much NFIP flood insurance can an apartment building get?
Running your portfolio
Can you pay an on-site apartment manager with a free unit instead of wages?
Running your portfolio
Do I need a rental license for my apartment building, and will the city inspect it?
Running your portfolio
How do you appeal the property tax assessment on an apartment building?
Running your portfolio
What does a landlord have to do after a data breach exposes tenant information?
Running your portfolio
How do landlords stop fake bank-change emails from vendors and scammers?
Rent and payments
How much can you raise rent under New York's Good Cause Eviction Law?
Rent and payments
What is Oregon's maximum rent increase for 2027, and when can you use it?
Rent and payments
Can a Washington tenant pay the security deposit in installments?
Rent and payments
Can a landlord charge a nonrefundable move-in, admin or cleaning fee?
Rent and payments
Is last month's rent the same as a security deposit, and who pays if rent goes up?
Rent and payments
How do you raise the rent on a Section 8 voucher tenant?
Rent and payments
What does Maryland require of landlords who take a security deposit?
Accounting and taxes
Can you still claim the 179D deduction for an energy upgrade to an apartment building?
Accounting and taxes
Can an apartment owner claim the 45L credit for units they build or rebuild and rent out?
Accounting and taxes
Which closing costs on an apartment building purchase are deductible, and which add to basis?
Accounting and taxes
Does the SALT cap apply to property taxes on rental property?
Accounting and taxes
Do Florida apartment owners have to file a tangible personal property tax return?
Accounting and taxes
Does selling or giving away part of your LLC trigger a California property tax reassessment?
Accounting and taxes
What happens when the IRS audits your rental property?
Accounting and taxes
What payroll taxes and forms do you owe when you hire a maintenance employee for your apartments?
Leasing and tenants
Is a landlord liable when one tenant harasses another tenant?
Leasing and tenants
Does my apartment building have to meet Fair Housing Act accessibility rules?
Leasing and tenants
A tenant wants to install grab bars or a ramp: what can the landlord require?
Leasing and tenants
Can a California landlord ask a tenant about immigration status?
Leasing and tenants
What disclosures does a California apartment lease need?
Leasing and tenants
What must a Maryland apartment lease include?
Leasing and tenants
Which notice does an Arizona landlord use for a lease violation that is not about rent?
Leasing and tenants
Can a Florida lease require tenants to give 60 days' notice before moving out?
Leasing and tenants
Can an apartment building have pool or playground rules just for children?
Maintenance and turns
Does my California apartment building need an SB 721 balcony inspection, and what if I missed the deadline?
Maintenance and turns
Can a California landlord hire an unlicensed handyman for rental repairs?
Maintenance and turns
What does Maryland's lead law require of apartment owners at registration and every turnover?
Maintenance and turns
How often does an apartment building elevator need to be inspected?
Maintenance and turns
What must California landlords tell tenants about bed bugs?
Maintenance and turns
What fire safety, mold and flood notices must Washington landlords give new tenants?
Maintenance and turns
Does Florida's milestone inspection law apply to apartment buildings?
Maintenance and turns
What are California's smoke alarm and carbon monoxide rules for apartment owners?
Running your portfolio
Does my apartment building have to report its energy use to the city?
Running your portfolio
Does the ADA apply to an apartment building's common areas?
Running your portfolio
Does a landlord need workers' comp for a maintenance worker or handyman?
Running your portfolio
How do landlords have to dispose of old tenant applications and screening reports?
Running your portfolio
Can a landlord put security cameras with audio in an apartment building's common areas?
Running your portfolio
Do you need a Phase I environmental site assessment to buy a small apartment building?
Accounting and taxes
How to prepare a T12 (trailing 12 month statement) for a rental property
Accounting and taxes
What an owner statement should include for your own LLCs or your co-owners
Accounting and taxes
How much to set aside for replacement reserves on a rental or apartment building
Accounting and taxes
Bookkeeping for landlords: how to set it up from scratch
Accounting and taxes
Spreadsheet vs accounting software for rental property: when a spreadsheet stops working
Accounting and taxes
Cost segregation study for a small rental or apartment building: what it is and when it pays
Accounting and taxes
Bonus depreciation on rental property: the current rules
Accounting and taxes
The $25,000 rental loss allowance: active participation and the income phase-out
Accounting and taxes
Real estate professional status: the 750-hour test and how to document your hours
Accounting and taxes
Depreciation recapture when you sell a rental property: unrecaptured section 1250 gain
Accounting and taxes
Will a landlord get a 1099-K for rent paid by Zelle, Venmo or a payment app?
Accounting and taxes
Cap rate vs cash-on-cash return vs NOI for a small apartment building
Accounting and taxes
Repair or improvement? The routine maintenance safe harbor and the betterment, restoration and adaptation test
Accounting and taxes
Schedule E or Form 8825: which form reports your rental?
Accounting and taxes
How to record rent payments and late fees in your rental property books
Accounting and taxes
Prepaid rent and tenant credits: how to book a tenant who pays ahead or overpays
Accounting and taxes
Form 1099-MISC for rent you pay vs 1099-NEC for contractors: who gets which
Accounting and taxes
Collecting W-9s from vendors and contractors: when, why, and backup withholding
Accounting and taxes
Security deposit deductions at move-out: how each one is booked, and when it becomes income
Accounting and taxes
How to read a rental property P&L (profit and loss), line by line
Accounting and taxes
Rental property balance sheet: what goes on it for a one-property LLC
Accounting and taxes
Rental property tax deductions: a checklist from IRS Publication 527
Accounting and taxes
How to depreciate a home you converted to a rental
Accounting and taxes
Land vs building value: how to split a rental purchase price for depreciation
Accounting and taxes
Section 121 and renting out your former home: the 2-of-5-year rule
Accounting and taxes
Short-term rental vs long-term rental taxes: the 7-day rule and Schedule E vs C
Accounting and taxes
Mortgage interest on a rental vs a home: what is deductible, points, and refinancing
Accounting and taxes
Rental property insurance premiums: when they are deductible and how prepaid policies work
Accounting and taxes
What to send your CPA at tax time for a rental LLC
Accounting and taxes
Owner draws vs distributions from a rental LLC: how to record them
Accounting and taxes
How to record an owner contribution to a rental LLC
Accounting and taxes
Commingling funds in a rental LLC: why it matters and how to clean it up
Accounting and taxes
Section 8 HAP payments: how to record the housing authority's part and the tenant's part
Accounting and taxes
Rent concessions and free month specials: how to record them in the books
Accounting and taxes
How to account for a tenant's bounced (NSF) rent payment and the returned-payment fee
Leasing and tenants
How does rental listing syndication work?
Leasing and tenants
What photos does a rental listing need?
Leasing and tenants
How do you set the asking rent for a rental listing?
Leasing and tenants
Do you need a website for a single rental property?
Leasing and tenants
What do fair housing rules say about rental ads besides the words?
Leasing and tenants
How do you reduce the number of days a rental sits vacant?
Leasing and tenants
Why is my rental listing getting no inquiries?
Leasing and tenants
How self-guided tours work, and how to run them safely
Leasing and tenants
How to schedule rental showings and cut no-shows
Leasing and tenants
Open house or private showings: which is better for a rental?
Leasing and tenants
How to answer rental inquiries quickly, with templates
Leasing and tenants
The rental application process for landlords, in order
Leasing and tenants
AI leasing assistants: what they can and cannot do for landlords
Leasing and tenants
What a landlord does between approving an applicant and handing over keys
Leasing and tenants
Free month of rent or a lower rent: which concession is better?
Leasing and tenants
How to rent a vacant unit to a Housing Choice Voucher holder
Leasing and tenants
Rental listing scams: how landlords protect a vacant unit's listing
Leasing and tenants
What time of year should you list a rental, and when should you start?
Leasing and tenants
Should you allow pets to fill a vacancy faster? How to write the policy
Leasing and tenants
How a rental holding deposit works: when to take one and when to refund it
Leasing and tenants
Furnished vs unfurnished rentals: which should you offer?
Leasing and tenants
How to film a rental walkthrough video with your phone
Leasing and tenants
Get a vacant unit rent-ready fast: the order of work
Leasing and tenants
How to market a rental on social media and in local groups
Leasing and tenants
Yard signs and other offline marketing that still work for rentals
Leasing and tenants
Tenant referral bonuses: how they work and what to check
Leasing and tenants
How to write a rental listing for a single-family home or condo
Leasing and tenants
How to lease several vacant units at once in a small building
Leasing and tenants
Kansas abandoned property law: a published notice, a 30 day hold and who gets the proceeds
Leasing and tenants
Maine unclaimed tenant property law: store it, mail a list and wait 7 to 14 days
Leasing and tenants
Alaska abandoned property law: a 15 day notice, safekeeping and a public sale
Leasing and tenants
Washington abandoned property law: the 45 day notice, the $250 shortcut and one year for surplus
Leasing and tenants
Arizona abandoned property law: certified notice, an inventory and a 14 day hold
Leasing and tenants
Virginia abandoned property law: a written warning, 24 hours and a deposit-style surplus
Leasing and tenants
Minnesota abandoned property law: 28 days, a 14 day sale notice and punitive damages
Leasing and tenants
Vermont abandoned property law: three tests for abandonment and a 60 day claim window
Leasing and tenants
Nevada abandoned property law: 30 days of storage, then a 14 day notice
Leasing and tenants
Delaware abandoned property law: the writ of possession and a 7 day storage period
Accounting and taxes
How to record a refinance and cash-out on a rental property in your books
Accounting and taxes
How to track capital improvements by unit so depreciation and a sale are easy
Accounting and taxes
1031 exchange bookkeeping: the entries and the basis of the new property
Accounting and taxes
How to record the sale of a rental property in your books
Accounting and taxes
A tenant does work instead of paying rent: how it is taxed and how to book it
Accounting and taxes
You live in one unit and rent the other: how to split expenses and depreciation
Accounting and taxes
You move into your own rental property: what happens to depreciation, deductions and the books
Accounting and taxes
How to do the bookkeeping for a mortgage escrow account on a rental property
Accounting and taxes
Is rental income subject to self-employment tax for a landlord?
Accounting and taxes
Inherited a rental property: how basis and depreciation work
Accounting and taxes
How to record property tax proration on the closing statement of a rental purchase
Accounting and taxes
Is a lease break fee income to the landlord, and how do you record it?
Accounting and taxes
What can you deduct on a vacant rental property?
Accounting and taxes
Gifted a rental property: how carryover basis and depreciation work
Running your portfolio
The landlord morning brief: what to check every day, in five minutes
Running your portfolio
Before you tap Accept: how to review what your AI assistant prepared
Running your portfolio
Prompt injection: how a message can try to steer your AI assistant, and what to do about it
Running your portfolio
The audit log for AI actions: what a landlord should be able to see
Running your portfolio
AI property management software: a checklist for landlords before you buy
Running your portfolio
Claude or ChatGPT for running your rentals: which should you connect?
Leasing and tenants
Tenant screening questions: how to use AI to draft them without creating fair housing risk
Leasing and tenants
How to write a rental listing with ChatGPT or Claude, and check it for fair housing problems
Leasing and tenants
Virtual tours of a rental unit, and what to disclose when AI edits the images
Running your portfolio
Which landlord tasks to automate first, and which to keep for yourself
Rent and payments
Automatic rent reminders: when to send them and what to say
Running your portfolio
A 30 minute weekly routine for self-managing landlords, with an AI assistant
Running your portfolio
How to read a rent roll or T12 with Claude or ChatGPT
Leasing and tenants
How to draft a lease renewal offer with AI, and keep control of it
Leasing and tenants
Can a landlord use ChatGPT or Claude to screen tenants?
Accounting and taxes
How to do the month-end close and bank matching with AI
Accounting and taxes
How to use AI to read rental bills and code them to Schedule E
Accounting and taxes
How to ask AI for a profit and loss across several rental LLCs
Running your portfolio
Can I paste a lease into ChatGPT? What to remove first
Running your portfolio
MCP connector vs custom GPT vs Claude project: which for a landlord?
Running your portfolio
How to connect Claude to your rental property records, step by step
Running your portfolio
How to connect ChatGPT to your rental property software
Rent and payments
AI prompts for chasing late rent, and the steps the AI should not take alone
Maintenance and turns
How to triage maintenance requests with AI, and where to keep a human
Running your portfolio
What an AI assistant should never do without the owner's approval
Leasing and tenants
Can AI write a landlord notice to a tenant?
Leasing and tenants
How to write a rent increase letter with AI, and what to check first
Leasing and tenants
Can AI draft a security deposit return letter with deductions?
Leasing and tenants
Can you trust ChatGPT or Claude on landlord-tenant law?
Running your portfolio
ChatGPT or Claude for managing rentals: how a landlord should choose
Running your portfolio
Custom instructions for your landlord AI: a template for your rules
Leasing and tenants
How to summarize a lease with AI and pull out the key dates
Maintenance and turns
How to compare contractor bids with AI
Running your portfolio
Who is responsible when a landlord's AI assistant makes a mistake?
Leasing and tenants
How to use AI to write firm, polite emails to a difficult tenant
Leasing and tenants
Can ChatGPT write a residential lease? What it tends to miss
Rent and payments
AI rent reminders: when to send them and what to say
Leasing and tenants
How to see which leases are expiring soon by asking Claude or ChatGPT
Leasing and tenants
How to create a rental listing by asking Claude or ChatGPT
Leasing and tenants
How to describe a neighborhood in a rental listing without steering
Leasing and tenants
How to reply to an angry tenant message, and how AI can draft it for you
Leasing and tenants
How to follow up after a rental showing, with templates
Leasing and tenants
What to do when an applicant starts a rental application and does not finish
Leasing and tenants
What to put in a welcome message to a new tenant
Running your portfolio
How to check an AI assistant's answer about your rent and your numbers
Running your portfolio
How to compare the performance of your rental properties by asking AI
Running your portfolio
How to disconnect Claude or ChatGPT from your rental software
Running your portfolio
Virtual assistant or AI assistant: which fits a landlord?
Leasing and tenants
Washington rental application fee law: notice first, actual cost only and reusable reports
Leasing and tenants
Minnesota applicant screening fee law: no cap, but a receipt, a disclosure and a refund
Leasing and tenants
Virginia rental application fee law: $50 plus actual costs, and a new notice rule in 2027
Leasing and tenants
Vermont rental application law: no application fee and no required Social Security number
Leasing and tenants
Maine rental application fee law: no fee, one actual-cost check and a copy of the report
Leasing and tenants
Delaware application fee law: the greater of 10 percent of rent or $50, a receipt and records
Leasing and tenants
Nevada application fee law: refund if you never process it, and no fees for minors
Leasing and tenants
Massachusetts rental application fees: the four-item list and why a screening fee is missing
Leasing and tenants
Oregon applicant screening charge law: actual cost, once per 60 days and written criteria first
Leasing and tenants
Colorado application fee law: processing cost only, portable reports and a $2,500 penalty
Accounting and taxes
Can a landlord use Mercury for a rental LLC's bank account?
Accounting and taxes
How do you track each rental property with classes in QuickBooks Online?
Accounting and taxes
How do you connect a bank feed for rental property bookkeeping?
Accounting and taxes
What do you need to open a bank account for a rental LLC?
Rent and payments
How can a tenant pay rent by bank transfer?
Rent and payments
Does a landlord have to keep security deposits in a separate bank account?
Accounting and taxes
What bookkeeping should a small landlord do every week?
Running your portfolio
Xero or QuickBooks Online: which fits a landlord's rental books?
Accounting and taxes
Why doesn't my rent payout match what hit my bank account?
Accounting and taxes
How do you record a transfer between two of your rental LLCs' bank accounts?
Accounting and taxes
How should a landlord record rental expenses paid with a credit card?
Accounting and taxes
How do you import a bank CSV file into your rental bookkeeping?
Leasing and tenants
Breaking a lease in Arizona: what lets a tenant leave and what you must do when they go
Leasing and tenants
Breaking a lease in Florida: the four choices section 83.595 gives you and who can leave for free
Leasing and tenants
Breaking a lease in Nevada: three statutory ways out and one gap you should plan for
Leasing and tenants
Breaking a lease in Washington: military, victims, repairs and the rerenting formula in RCW 59.18.310
Leasing and tenants
Breaking a lease in Virginia: no liquidated damages for protected exits and a duty to mitigate
Leasing and tenants
Breaking a lease in Texas: the statutory exits, the lease language you must include and the mitigation duty
Leasing and tenants
Breaking a lease in Ohio: one statutory exit, the exemption for small landlords and what Chapter 5321 leaves to the lease
Leasing and tenants
Breaking a lease in North Carolina: capped damages for military tenants, a free exit for victims
Leasing and tenants
Breaking a lease in Minnesota: the victim release, the death of a tenant and the covenants that can end a lease
Leasing and tenants
Breaking a lease in Massachusetts: section 24, the three-month windows and what you can ask a victim to prove
Comparisons
DoorKeeping vs Avail: price, tenant fees and what each does
Comparisons
DoorKeeping vs Hemlane for owners with a few to a few dozen units
Comparisons
DoorKeeping vs Rentec Direct: every published fee side by side
Comparisons
DoorKeeping vs Landlord Studio for owners with a handful of units
Comparisons
DoorKeeping vs Zillow Rental Manager: finding a tenant or running the building
Comparisons
RentRedi alternatives for landlords with 5 to 50 units
Comparisons
Property management software for 1 to 10 units: a buyer's guide
Running your portfolio
AppFolio pricing: what each plan costs and what is not published
Running your portfolio
Buildium pricing: plan prices plus the fees charged per use
Running your portfolio
DoorLoop pricing: per-unit prices and the monthly minimums
Running your portfolio
Rent Manager pricing: no prices are published, so here is what to ask
Running your portfolio
Yardi Breeze pricing: $1 per unit, the minimum and the fee schedule
Running your portfolio
TurboTenant pricing: the free plan, yearly plans and renter fees
Running your portfolio
Buildium alternatives: how to choose by price structure
Running your portfolio
DoorLoop alternatives: what to weigh before you switch
Running your portfolio
TurboTenant alternatives for landlords with more units
Running your portfolio
Avail alternatives: landlord price and tenant fees side by side
Leasing and tenants
Iowa security deposit law: two months, 30 days and a landlord who carries the proof
Leasing and tenants
Nebraska security deposit law: a one month cap and a 14 day return
Leasing and tenants
North Dakota security deposit law: interest-bearing accounts and treble damages
Leasing and tenants
West Virginia security deposit law: the notice period, records and 1.5 times damages
Leasing and tenants
Delaware security deposit law: the escrow account, the 20 day list and double damages
Leasing and tenants
Maine security deposit law: the lease sets the clock, up to 30 days
Leasing and tenants
Kansas security deposit law: one month, a 30 day outer limit and a move-in inventory
Leasing and tenants
South Dakota security deposit law: one month, 21 days and a 45 day accounting on request
Leasing and tenants
Alaska security deposit law: a two month cap with a $2,000 rent line and a 14 or 30 day refund
Leasing and tenants
Vermont security deposit law: 14 days, no cap in the statute and double damages
Leasing and tenants
Florida landlord right of entry: 24 hours for repairs, any time to protect the property
Leasing and tenants
Arizona landlord entry notice: two days, reasonable hours and a service-request shortcut
Leasing and tenants
Ohio landlord entry rules: reasonable notice, a 24-hour presumption and tenant remedies
Leasing and tenants
Washington landlord entry: two days in writing, a window of time and a phone number
Leasing and tenants
Virginia landlord entry: reasonable access, 72 hours for maintenance and court-ordered access
Leasing and tenants
Minnesota landlord entry law: a business reason, 24 hours' notice and an 8-to-8 window
Leasing and tenants
Oregon landlord access: 24 hours of actual notice, a tenant's right to deny and a damages floor
Leasing and tenants
Nevada landlord right of entry: 24 hours' notice during business hours
Leasing and tenants
South Carolina landlord entry: 24 hours' notice and set hours for scheduled services
Leasing and tenants
Kansas landlord right to enter: reasonable hours, reasonable notice and an extreme-hazard exception
Leasing and tenants
Nebraska landlord entry notice: written, 24 hours ahead, with a purpose and a time window
Leasing and tenants
Delaware landlord entry: 48 hours' notice, an 8 a.m. to 9 p.m. window and void liability waivers
Leasing and tenants
Iowa landlord entry rules: 24 hours, reasonable times and almost no other way in
Leasing and tenants
Vermont landlord entry: 48 hours' notice, between 9 a.m. and 9 p.m., and a tight emergency rule
Leasing and tenants
Maine landlord entry: reasonable notice, a 24-hour presumption and a $250 damages floor
Leasing and tenants
Rhode Island landlord entry: two days' notice, plus a rule for tenants away for a week
Leasing and tenants
Montana landlord entry: 24 hours, a notice you may post on the door and a lock rule
Leasing and tenants
North Dakota landlord entry: a time certain, presumed consent and wider emergency reasons
Leasing and tenants
Massachusetts landlord entry: what a lease may allow, and what the statute leaves unsaid
Rent and payments
Can a landlord charge a credit card fee on rent?
Leasing and tenants
How to list a rental on Zillow, Zumper and Realtor.com
Leasing and tenants
How to rent a unit without showing it in person
Leasing and tenants
How to make a rental listing page that gets found on Google
Running your portfolio
How to manage a mixed-use building with apartments and retail suites
Maintenance and turns
How to build a unit turn board and track days vacant
Maintenance and turns
How to build a preventive maintenance calendar for your rentals
Running your portfolio
How to see all your rental properties and LLCs in one report
Running your portfolio
How to give your team limited access to your rental software
Running your portfolio
How to manage one to four rental units yourself, without overbuilding
Accounting and taxes
You paid one rental LLC's bill from another LLC's account: how to fix it
Running your portfolio
Should an AI pay your bills or send tenant notices? Where to draw the line
Running your portfolio
The landlord's morning brief: what to check every day in under five minutes
Accounting and taxes
How to give co-owners of a rental property a statement and split the money
Accounting and taxes
Year-end close for rental property books: a checklist before you send them to your tax preparer
Running your portfolio
How to move your rentals from spreadsheets to AI first property management
Maintenance and turns
How to triage maintenance requests: emergency, urgent or routine
Maintenance and turns
How to send a repair job to a vendor by link, with no vendor login
Accounting and taxes
Can AI read a contractor invoice and code the expense for a rental?
Accounting and taxes
How to pay a contractor safely as a landlord, with owner approval on every payment
Accounting and taxes
Who gets a 1099-NEC from a landlord: handymen, plumbers, cleaners and card payments
Accounting and taxes
Credit card reconciliation for a rental business, step by step
Accounting and taxes
Your rental bank reconciliation does not balance: how to find the difference
Rent and payments
How to calculate the maximum late fee on rent: Texas, Virginia and Maine examples
Rent and payments
How to track security deposits per property, with return deadlines by state
Running your portfolio
What a rent roll should show when a lender or buyer asks for one
Running your portfolio
An audit log for rental bookkeeping: what it should record and why
Running your portfolio
How a replacement reserve account works in your books, and what it does for taxes
Leasing and tenants
What to put in a lease renewal offer letter
Leasing and tenants
How to do a move-out inspection with photos
Leasing and tenants
What an itemized security deposit statement must include
Leasing and tenants
How to keep a record of everything you send and hear from tenants
Leasing and tenants
Where to store leases and rental documents, property by property
Leasing and tenants
What a notice to cure a lease violation has to say
Leasing and tenants
How much notice does a tenant have to give before moving out?
Leasing and tenants
New tenant onboarding checklist: from signed lease to move-in day
Leasing and tenants
How to write a rental pet policy and addendum
Leasing and tenants
How to make a virtual tour of a rental listing from your own photos
Running your portfolio
What landlord insurance usually does not cover
Running your portfolio
Loss of rent coverage: how fair rental value pays a landlord
Running your portfolio
Umbrella insurance for landlords: do you need one?
Running your portfolio
Landlord liability risks at a rental and how to reduce them
Running your portfolio
How to file an insurance claim after tenant damage
Running your portfolio
Vacant property insurance and the vacancy clause
Maintenance and turns
Slip-and-fall prevention checklist for a rental property
Running your portfolio
Replacement cost vs actual cash value on a landlord policy
Running your portfolio
DP-1, DP-2 and DP-3: the landlord policy forms explained
Running your portfolio
What to do when a landlord insurance claim is denied
Running your portfolio
Does an LLC replace insurance on a rental property?
Maintenance and turns
How to document a rental's condition for claims and deposits
Leasing and tenants
What a tenant estoppel certificate is and when you need one
Leasing and tenants
Parking rules to put in your lease, and how to enforce them
Leasing and tenants
What a landlord does when a tenant dies
Leasing and tenants
How to sue a former tenant in small claims court
Leasing and tenants
What a landlord does when a tenant files for bankruptcy
Leasing and tenants
What to do when a tenant moves in an unauthorized occupant
Running your portfolio
Package theft at your rental: are you responsible?
Leasing and tenants
A tenant asks to install an EV charger: how to handle it
Maintenance and turns
Trash and recycling rules for your lease
Leasing and tenants
Can a tenant run a business from your rental?
Running your portfolio
How to sell a rental property with tenants still in it
Leasing and tenants
Squatter or tenant: what a landlord does first
Accounting and taxes
What a tenant ledger is and how to keep one
Maintenance and turns
A move-out inspection checklist for landlords
Rent and payments
Rent receipts: when you must give one and what to put on it
Rent and payments
How much should you raise the rent? A step-by-step method
Leasing and tenants
Who pays the utilities in a rental: landlord or tenant?
Leasing and tenants
Cash for keys: how to pay a tenant to move out
Leasing and tenants
How to respond to a noise complaint between tenants
Maintenance and turns
Roaches and mice in a rental: who pays for pest control?
Leasing and tenants
How to write a fair guest policy for your lease
Running your portfolio
How to keep a tenant communication log
Running your portfolio
How to become a landlord: the first steps
Running your portfolio
First rental property checklist: before and after closing
Running your portfolio
Landlord insurance vs a homeowners policy: what changes when you rent a home out
Running your portfolio
When should you form an LLC for a rental property?
Running your portfolio
How much time does being a landlord take?
Running your portfolio
How to manage a single-family rental from another state
Running your portfolio
Buying a duplex to live in: owner-occupant landlord tips
Running your portfolio
The 1 percent rule for rental property, explained
Running your portfolio
How to build a simple rental property pro forma before you buy
Running your portfolio
Rental property startup costs: a first-year budget
Running your portfolio
Questions to ask a property manager before you hire one
Running your portfolio
Federal laws every new landlord should know
Rent and payments
Utah late fee laws for rent: the greater of 10 percent or $75
Rent and payments
Hawaii late fee laws for rent: an 8 percent ceiling
Rent and payments
Idaho late fee laws for rent: reasonable, agreed and noticed
Rent and payments
Rhode Island late fee laws for rent: disclose the fee and mind the 15 days
Rent and payments
Montana late fee laws for rent: no cap, but a rule on payment-type fees
Rent and payments
South Carolina late fee laws for rent: late charges count as rent
Rent and payments
Kansas late fee laws for rent: the lease sets the fee, the notice gives three days
Rent and payments
Nebraska late fee laws for rent: the lease sets the fee, notice gives seven days
Rent and payments
Vermont late fee laws for rent: no cap, 14 days' notice, no waiver by partial payment
Rent and payments
Missouri late fee laws for rent: a late fee is not rent in a possession case
Leasing and tenants
How fast should you reply to a rental inquiry?
Leasing and tenants
Rental lead follow-up: a 3-touch plan with templates
Leasing and tenants
What is a guest card in rental leasing?
Leasing and tenants
Leasing pipeline stages for small landlords
Leasing and tenants
How to track where your rental leads come from
Leasing and tenants
How to follow up after a rental showing
Leasing and tenants
Fair housing-safe wording for rental ads and follow-up messages
Leasing and tenants
Texting prospective tenants: consent, STOP and quiet hours
Leasing and tenants
How to re-engage lost rental leads
Leasing and tenants
Do small landlords need a leasing CRM?
Leasing and tenants
How to turn an approved applicant into a signed lease
Leasing and tenants
Leasing funnel metrics small landlords should track
Accounting and taxes
Is rental income subject to self-employment tax?
Accounting and taxes
Renting a room in your home: how rent and expenses are reported
Accounting and taxes
Can you deduct expenses on a vacant rental property?
Accounting and taxes
Can you deduct travel to an out-of-town rental property?
Accounting and taxes
Are eviction and legal fees tax deductible for a landlord?
Accounting and taxes
A tenant pays you to cancel the lease: is it taxable income?
Accounting and taxes
You inherited a rental property: how to set the basis and start the books
Accounting and taxes
Do you need a separate bank account for your rental property?
Accounting and taxes
When does a landlord have to file Form 4562?
Accounting and taxes
Are condo dues and HOA assessments deductible on a rental?
Accounting and taxes
Co-owned rental property: how each owner reports income and expenses
Accounting and taxes
Are property management fees and leasing commissions deductible?
Leasing and tenants
How many days does a tenant have to report damage after moving in?
Leasing and tenants
Do California landlords have to offer an inspection before the tenant moves out?
Maintenance and turns
Can a landlord charge a tenant for damaged carpet, and how does the age of the carpet matter?
Maintenance and turns
Can a landlord charge a tenant for repainting walls after move-out?
Maintenance and turns
Can a landlord deduct from the security deposit for cigarette smoke damage?
Maintenance and turns
Should a landlord keep the utilities on in a vacant unit between tenants?
Leasing and tenants
How do I make sure a new tenant puts the utilities in their name at move-in?
Maintenance and turns
How do I schedule vendors for a unit turn so the unit is not empty longer than it has to be?
Maintenance and turns
Should a landlord get a lien waiver from a contractor before paying for a repair?
Maintenance and turns
How much of a deposit can a contractor ask for before starting a rental repair?
Leasing and tenants
A tenant disputes my security deposit deductions. What proof should I have?
Leasing and tenants
What cleaning checklist should a landlord give tenants before they move out?
Rent and payments
Can a landlord charge a fee when a tenant pays rent by credit card, and which states ban it?
Rent and payments
What should a landlord do when a tenant disputes a card rent payment and the money is taken back?
Rent and payments
How do you set up a payment plan for a tenant who is behind on rent?
Rent and payments
What is a good day-by-day follow-up schedule when rent is late?
Rent and payments
What should a landlord do when a tenant says they will pay the late rent on Friday?
Maintenance and turns
In what order should trades work in a unit turn: paint, flooring, cleaning?
Maintenance and turns
How do you calculate what a vacant apartment costs per day between tenants?
Maintenance and turns
How often should HVAC filters be changed in a rental, and who is responsible?
Maintenance and turns
How often should a landlord flush or drain a rental water heater?
Maintenance and turns
How should a small landlord check and approve a vendor invoice before paying it?
Maintenance and turns
What should a landlord do when a vendor invoice is higher than the quote?
Maintenance and turns
Is a vendor invoice for my rental a repair or an improvement?
Rent and payments
What should a landlord do when a tenant overpays rent: credit it or refund it?
Rent and payments
Should rent be due on the 1st of the month for everyone, or on different dates?
Maintenance and turns
How often should a landlord clean the gutters and check the roof on a rental property?
Maintenance and turns
How often should a landlord schedule pest control for a rental property?
Maintenance and turns
How do I choose and vet a handyman for my rental properties?
Maintenance and turns
How do I turn a move-out inspection into a scope of work and a budget for the turn?
Maintenance and turns
How do I estimate the make-ready cost per unit for my rentals?
Rent and payments
Do landlords have to give tenants a rent receipt, and what should it say?
Maintenance and turns
How often should a landlord test the smoke alarms in a rental, and who replaces the batteries?
Maintenance and turns
What counts as an emergency repair, and how fast should a landlord respond to each kind?
Maintenance and turns
What should a landlord do in the first 24 hours after a water leak in a rental?
Maintenance and turns
What should a landlord record in a maintenance log for each rental unit?
Maintenance and turns
Who is responsible for cleaning the dryer vent in a rental, and how often should it be done?
Maintenance and turns
How do I set an annual maintenance budget per unit for my rentals?
Rent and payments
How can a tenant with no bank account pay rent, and what should a landlord accept?
Rent and payments
A check for more than the rent arrived and the sender wants the difference back: is it a scam?
Rent and payments
Can a landlord require tenants to pay rent by automatic bank debit (autopay)?
Rent and payments
Can a tenant get an ACH rent payment reversed after the money has reached my account?
Rent and payments
Can I waive a late fee for one tenant and charge it to another?
Maintenance and turns
Do landlords have to change or rekey the locks between tenants?
Maintenance and turns
What can a landlord do when a tenant refuses to let them in to make a repair?
Maintenance and turns
Does a tenant have to submit a repair request in writing before the landlord must fix it?
Maintenance and turns
Who pays for a clogged toilet or drain in a rental, the landlord or the tenant?
Maintenance and turns
Can a landlord bill a tenant for damage caused during the lease, instead of waiting until move out?
Rent and payments
What should a landlord tell tenants when the property is sold or management changes, and where to send rent?
Maintenance and turns
Do fair housing rules require landlords to respond to maintenance requests the same way for every tenant?
Leasing and tenants
Does a California landlord have to give a translated lease when the tenant negotiates in Spanish or another language?
Maintenance and turns
Arizona landlord repair laws: written notice, ten days and a capped repair-and-deduct right
Maintenance and turns
Washington landlord repair laws: three deadlines, repair and deduct caps and a retaliation ban
Maintenance and turns
Ohio landlord repair laws: written notice, a 30-day outer limit and rent paid to the court
Maintenance and turns
Virginia landlord repair laws: written notice, a 21-day cure and a retaliation rule that changes in 2027
Maintenance and turns
South Carolina landlord repair laws: a 14-day notice and no repair and deduct
Maintenance and turns
Nebraska landlord repair laws: written notice and three remedies for lost essential services
Maintenance and turns
Rhode Island landlord repair laws: reasonable notice and a choice of three remedies
Maintenance and turns
Kansas landlord repair laws: the duties, the 30-day termination notice and the 14-day repair start
Maintenance and turns
Iowa landlord repair laws: a seven-day notice, a six-month recurrence rule and willful-breach fees
Maintenance and turns
Minnesota landlord repair laws: duties that cannot be waived and a 90-day retaliation presumption
Leasing and tenants
Lease renewal email templates you can copy
Leasing and tenants
Tenant retention ideas for small landlords
Leasing and tenants
The cost of tenant turnover, line by line
Leasing and tenants
Rent increase or vacancy: a break-even method
Leasing and tenants
How to tell a tenant the rent is going up
Leasing and tenants
A tenant says they will not renew: what to do next
Leasing and tenants
Move-out letter to a tenant: a template
Leasing and tenants
Tenant communication: five habits for landlords
Leasing and tenants
How to respond to a tenant complaint, step by step
Leasing and tenants
Annual rental inspection: giving notice and what to check
Leasing and tenants
Tenant satisfaction survey questions for landlords
Leasing and tenants
Renewal incentives for tenants: when they are worth it
Running your portfolio
How can a landlord connect QuickBooks or Xero to rental software safely?
Running your portfolio
What is a read-only bank connection, and is it safe for a landlord?
Accounting and taxes
What is the safest way for a landlord to share rental books with a CPA?
Rent and payments
How can a landlord tell whether a Zelle payment screenshot is real?
Leasing and tenants
How should a landlord verify who is asking before sharing tenant information?
Running your portfolio
What should a landlord do right after losing a phone that runs their rentals?
Running your portfolio
How does a landlord find and remove apps that can read their email account?
Running your portfolio
How can a landlord share rental financials with co-owners without sharing logins?
Accounting and taxes
What records should a rental LLC keep to show it is separate from its owner?
Maintenance and turns
What tenant information should a landlord share with a repair vendor?
Running your portfolio
Does a small landlord need cyber insurance?
Leasing and tenants
How can a landlord reduce the tenant data they hold?
Leasing and tenants
How should a landlord handle an applicant's Social Security number?
Leasing and tenants
How long should a landlord keep rental applications?
Leasing and tenants
What must a landlord's adverse action notice say?
Leasing and tenants
Does a landlord need permission to run a tenant's credit check?
Leasing and tenants
How do you write tenant screening criteria that are fair and consistent?
Leasing and tenants
What are the protected classes under the Fair Housing Act?
Leasing and tenants
What should a landlord do when a fair housing complaint is filed?
Accounting and taxes
When does a landlord have to withhold 24% from a contractor's pay?
Accounting and taxes
How can a landlord check that a contractor's TIN is correct?
Leasing and tenants
What should a landlord do when scammers copy a rental listing?
Leasing and tenants
How can a landlord tell if a pay stub is fake?
Running your portfolio
Which accounts should a landlord protect with two-factor sign-in?
Running your portfolio
How can a landlord share logins with a helper without sharing passwords?
Maintenance and turns
How should a landlord manage smart lock codes and access logs in a rental?
Rent and payments
How does the fake check overpayment scam work on landlords?
Running your portfolio
How can a landlord protect a rental property from deed fraud?
Leasing and tenants
How can a landlord spot a fake ID or a made-up rental applicant?
Leasing and tenants
How can a landlord share documents with tenants securely?
Accounting and taxes
How can a landlord give a bookkeeper access without giving up control?
Running your portfolio
What should a landlord shut off when a helper stops working for them?
Running your portfolio
How can a small landlord protect rental records from ransomware?
Maintenance and turns
Does a landlord have to rekey the locks between tenants?
Maintenance and turns
How can a landlord tell a real contractor from a scam before paying?
Running your portfolio
What should a landlord do if their email is hacked or they clicked a phishing link?
Leasing and tenants
How to serve a notice on a tenant in Arizona: hand it over or send it certified, and count five days for the mail
Leasing and tenants
How to serve a notice on a tenant in Florida: four methods, one signed e-mail addendum and a three-day count that skips weekends
Leasing and tenants
How to serve a notice on a tenant in Nevada: who may serve it, the three methods and the proof a court wants
Leasing and tenants
How to serve a notice on a tenant in Virginia: the place of service, the electronic option and the 14-day count
Leasing and tenants
How to serve a notice to vacate in Texas: four listed methods, the actual-receipt rule and the three-day default
Leasing and tenants
How to serve a three-day notice on a tenant in Ohio: three methods and one sentence that has to be on the notice
Leasing and tenants
How to serve the 14-day nonpayment notice in Minnesota: deliver in person or mail first class, with six required items
Leasing and tenants
How to serve a notice on a tenant in Oregon: four methods, three extra days for mail and a day-counting rule
Leasing and tenants
How to serve a notice on a tenant in Washington: three tiers of service and a 14-day pay or vacate clock
Leasing and tenants
How to serve a demand for possession in Michigan: four methods, a mail rule that fixes the service date and a seven-day count
Running your portfolio
Free property management software for landlords: what the free plans actually cover
Running your portfolio
Free vs paid rent collection apps: who pays what on each payment
Running your portfolio
Per unit, flat fee or tiered: how landlord software prices work and how to compare them
Running your portfolio
Hidden fees in property management software: the questions to ask before you sign
Running your portfolio
How to test landlord software in a free trial with your own data
Running your portfolio
What to ask in a property management software demo
Running your portfolio
Signs you have outgrown your landlord software, and how to decide whether to switch
Running your portfolio
When to switch landlord software: which month, which day, and what to check first
Running your portfolio
How to clean a tenant ledger spreadsheet before moving it into software
Running your portfolio
Opening balances and security deposits: what to carry over when you switch landlord software
Running your portfolio
What to export from your landlord software before you cancel
Running your portfolio
One landlord platform or separate apps for rent, banking, books and screening?
Leasing and tenants
Texas landlord entry notice: no statute sets the hours, so your lease does
Leasing and tenants
Pennsylvania notice to quit: 10 days for unpaid rent, 15 or 30 days otherwise
Leasing and tenants
Michigan month-to-month notice: one rent period, and 7 days for unpaid rent
Leasing and tenants
Missouri month-to-month notice: one month, and no waiting period for unpaid rent
Leasing and tenants
Massachusetts notice to quit: 14 days for rent, 30 days or one rent period at will
Leasing and tenants
Maryland notice to vacate: 60 days for landlords, 30 for tenants, 10 for unpaid rent
Leasing and tenants
Colorado notice to vacate: 10 days to pay or leave, and 21 days from a tenant
Leasing and tenants
Minnesota landlord entry notice: 24 hours, a time window, 8 a.m. to 8 p.m.
Leasing and tenants
South Carolina landlord entry notice: 24 hours, with exceptions for services
Leasing and tenants
Alabama security deposit laws: one month cap and 60 days to return it
Leasing and tenants
Louisiana security deposit laws: no cap, one month to return it
Leasing and tenants
Oregon landlord entry notice: 24 hours of actual notice, at reasonable times
Leasing and tenants
Arizona security deposit laws for landlords: 1.5 months and 14 business days
Leasing and tenants
Colorado security deposit laws for landlords: the two month cap, exact reasons and treble damages
Leasing and tenants
Massachusetts security deposit laws for landlords: the separate account, yearly interest and triple damages
Leasing and tenants
Michigan security deposit laws for landlords: the move-in notice, the damages notice and the 45 day rule
Leasing and tenants
North Carolina security deposit laws for landlords: a cap that depends on the lease, and a 30 then 60 day accounting
Leasing and tenants
New Jersey security deposit laws for landlords: 1.5 months, an interest account and double damages
Leasing and tenants
New York security deposit laws for landlords: one month, a trust account and 14 days
Leasing and tenants
Ohio security deposit laws for landlords: no cap, interest on the excess and a 30 day notice
Leasing and tenants
Pennsylvania security deposit laws for landlords: two months, then one, and interest after year two
Leasing and tenants
Texas security deposit laws for landlords: the 30 day clock and the bad faith presumption
Leasing and tenants
Virginia security deposit laws for landlords: the 45 day window, the move-out inspection and a two year record
Leasing and tenants
How to evict a tenant in Texas: steps and timeline
Leasing and tenants
How to evict a tenant in California: steps and timeline
Leasing and tenants
How to evict a tenant in Ohio: steps and timeline
Leasing and tenants
How to evict a tenant in North Carolina: steps and timeline
Leasing and tenants
How to evict a tenant in Arizona for unpaid rent, and how fast it moves
Leasing and tenants
How to evict a tenant in Pennsylvania: steps and timeline
Leasing and tenants
How to evict a tenant in Michigan: steps and timeline
Leasing and tenants
How to evict a tenant in New York: steps and timeline
Leasing and tenants
How to evict a tenant in New Jersey: the Anti-Eviction Act, step by step
Leasing and tenants
How to evict a tenant in Georgia: the dispossessory process
Leasing and tenants
How to evict a tenant in Illinois: notices, court and the sheriff
Leasing and tenants
How to evict a tenant in Indiana: from notice to sealing
Leasing and tenants
How to evict a tenant in Missouri for unpaid rent: the rent and possession case
Leasing and tenants
How to evict a tenant in Tennessee (URLTA counties): notice, detainer warrant and sheriff
Leasing and tenants
California security deposit laws for landlords: the one month cap, 21 days and photo proof
Leasing and tenants
Georgia security deposit laws for landlords: escrow for larger owners, the move-out list and treble damages
Leasing and tenants
Illinois security deposit laws for landlords, with a section on Chicago's RLTO
Leasing and tenants
Maryland security deposit laws for landlords: the one month cap, the interest formula and treble damages
Leasing and tenants
Minnesota security deposit laws for landlords: three weeks, 1% interest and the $500 bad faith penalty
Leasing and tenants
Missouri security deposit laws for landlords: two months, 30 days and double damages
Leasing and tenants
Nevada security deposit laws for landlords: the three month ceiling and the double damages clause
Leasing and tenants
Oregon security deposit laws for landlords: the receipt, the first year freeze and the 31 day accounting
Leasing and tenants
South Carolina security deposit laws for landlords: the demand trigger and triple damages
Leasing and tenants
Washington security deposit laws for landlords: no checklist, no deposit
Rent and payments
Texas late fee laws for rent: cap, grace period and notice
Rent and payments
New York late fee laws for rent: the $50 or 5 percent cap
Rent and payments
Oregon late fee laws for rent: three formulas to choose from
Rent and payments
Colorado late fee laws for rent: seven days, $50 or 5 percent
Rent and payments
Nevada late fee laws for rent: 5 percent, three days, no stacking
Rent and payments
Maryland late fee laws for rent: the 5 percent limit
Rent and payments
Maine late fee laws for rent: a 15-day wait and a 4 percent cap
Rent and payments
Massachusetts late fee laws for rent: nothing until day 30
Rent and payments
Minnesota late fee laws for rent: 8 percent of the overdue payment
Rent and payments
Washington late fee laws for rent: five days, then payments go to rent first
Rent and payments
Virginia late fee laws for rent: 10 percent of the smaller number
Rent and payments
North Carolina late fee laws for rent: $15 or 5 percent, once
Rent and payments
Iowa late fee laws for rent: daily limits and a monthly ceiling
Leasing and tenants
How to evict a tenant in Washington: steps and timeline
Leasing and tenants
How to evict a tenant in Virginia: steps and timeline
Leasing and tenants
How to evict a tenant in South Carolina: steps and timeline
Leasing and tenants
How to evict a tenant in Oregon: steps and timeline
Leasing and tenants
How to evict a tenant in Nevada: steps and timeline
Leasing and tenants
How to evict a tenant in Minnesota: steps and timeline
Leasing and tenants
How to evict a tenant in Colorado: steps and timeline
Leasing and tenants
How to evict a tenant in Maryland: steps and timeline
Leasing and tenants
How to evict a tenant in Massachusetts: steps and timeline
Leasing and tenants
How to evict a tenant in Idaho: steps and timeline
Rent and payments
Arizona late fee laws for rent: reasonable, written and tied to the five-day notice
Rent and payments
Delaware late fee laws for rent: the 5 percent cap and five-day wait
Rent and payments
Washington DC late fee laws for rent: 5 percent cap, lease wording and invoice
Rent and payments
Florida late fee laws for rent: no statutory cap, so the lease matters
Rent and payments
Ohio late fee laws for rent: no set cap, and what the lease terms law allows
Rent and payments
New Jersey late fee laws for rent: the five business day grace period and who it covers
Rent and payments
New Mexico late fee laws for rent: the 5 percent cap and the notice deadline
Rent and payments
Pennsylvania late fee laws for rent: no cap in the Act, and the 10-day notice
Rent and payments
Michigan late fee laws for rent: banned lease terms and the seven-day notice
Leasing and tenants
How to evict a tenant in Nebraska: steps and timeline
Leasing and tenants
How to evict a tenant in Iowa: steps and timeline
Leasing and tenants
How to evict a tenant in Kansas: steps and timeline
Leasing and tenants
How to evict a tenant in Oklahoma: steps and timeline
Leasing and tenants
How to evict a tenant in Delaware: steps and timeline
Leasing and tenants
How to evict a tenant in Maine: steps and timeline
Leasing and tenants
How to evict a tenant in Utah: steps and timeline
Leasing and tenants
How to evict a tenant in Rhode Island: steps and timeline
Leasing and tenants
How to evict a tenant in Vermont: steps and timeline
Leasing and tenants
How to evict a tenant in Alaska: steps and timeline
Leasing and tenants
How to evict a tenant in Florida: notices, court and the writ
Leasing and tenants
How to evict a tenant in Montana: the notice, the hearing and the writ
Leasing and tenants
How to evict a tenant in Wyoming: the 3-day notice and the circuit court case
Leasing and tenants
How to evict a tenant in North Dakota: Chapter 47-32 step by step
Leasing and tenants
How to evict a tenant in South Dakota: the forcible entry and detainer action
Leasing and tenants
How to evict a tenant in West Virginia: the Article 3A petition
Leasing and tenants
How to evict a tenant in Louisiana: notice to vacate, rule and warrant
Leasing and tenants
How to evict a tenant in Kentucky: the two layers of rules
Leasing and tenants
How to evict a tenant in Washington, D.C.: notice, filing and service
Rent and payments
Oklahoma late fee law for rent: what the Act says and leaves out
Rent and payments
West Virginia late fee law for rent: reasonable charges in the lease
Rent and payments
Kentucky late fee law for rent: where the URLTA applies
Running your portfolio
How to switch from Yardi Breeze to DoorKeeping: exports, terms and cutover
Running your portfolio
How to switch from TenantCloud to DoorKeeping: export, cancel and cut over
Running your portfolio
How to switch from Stessa to DoorKeeping: reports to download and account closing
Running your portfolio
How to switch from Baselane to DoorKeeping: exports, banking and closing
Running your portfolio
How to switch from TurboTenant to DoorKeeping: rent roll export and cancelling
Running your portfolio
How to switch from RentRedi to DoorKeeping: exports, cancelling and timing
Running your portfolio
How to switch from Avail to DoorKeeping: reports to save and how to cut over
Running your portfolio
How to switch from Innago to DoorKeeping: exports, timing and tenants
Running your portfolio
How to switch from AppFolio to DoorKeeping: what to export and when
Running your portfolio
How to switch from Buildium to DoorKeeping: exports, timing and cancelling
Running your portfolio
How to switch from DoorLoop to DoorKeeping: what to export first
Running your portfolio
How to switch from Rent Manager to DoorKeeping: exports and cutover
Running your portfolio
How to move from Excel or Google Sheets to property management software
Rent and payments
How to collect rent online without paying fees
Rent and payments
How to tell which tenant paid: memo codes and exact-cent amounts
Rent and payments
Late fees on rent: how they work, with state limits
Rent and payments
Rent grace periods: what they are and which states require one
Rent and payments
Security deposit limits and return deadlines, state by state examples
Rent and payments
How to handle a partial rent payment
Rent and payments
Zelle for rent: limits, fraud protections and tradeoffs
Rent and payments
What to do when a tenant does not pay rent: the pay or quit notice
Rent and payments
Rent increase notice: how much notice landlords must give
Rent and payments
Housing Choice Voucher rent: how the HAP and tenant portions work
Accounting and taxes
Bookkeeping for rental property: a simple chart of accounts for an apartment building
Accounting and taxes
One LLC per property: how to keep separate books and bank accounts
Accounting and taxes
Bank reconciliation for rental property, month by month
Accounting and taxes
Depreciation of residential rental property: 27.5 years, with a worked example
Accounting and taxes
Form 1099-NEC for contractors who work on your rentals
Accounting and taxes
Month-end close checklist for apartment owners
Accounting and taxes
Accounting for security deposits: a liability, not income
Accounting and taxes
How to calculate net operating income (NOI) for an apartment building
Accounting and taxes
Cash vs accrual accounting for rental property
Accounting and taxes
The de minimis safe harbor election for rental property
Leasing and tenants
A tenant screening checklist that follows the law
Leasing and tenants
Fair housing rules for rental listings: words and practices to avoid
Leasing and tenants
Source of income laws and housing vouchers: what landlords need to know
Leasing and tenants
How to write an apartment listing that fills units faster
Leasing and tenants
Lease renewals: when to start, what to offer, and a timeline
Leasing and tenants
Move-in checklist and condition report: what to record and why it matters
Leasing and tenants
What to include in an apartment lease: the clauses that matter
Leasing and tenants
Rental application questions: what you can and cannot ask
Leasing and tenants
When a tenant wants to break a lease: options and the duty to mitigate
Leasing and tenants
Assistance animals and pet policies: the HUD rules for landlords now
Maintenance and turns
A work order process for small apartment owners
Maintenance and turns
Preventive maintenance checklist for an apartment building, season by season
Maintenance and turns
Unit turnover (make-ready) checklist and timeline
Maintenance and turns
How quickly must a landlord make repairs? The warranty of habitability explained
Maintenance and turns
Hiring and managing maintenance vendors: insurance, W-9s, scopes and payment
Maintenance and turns
Emergency maintenance: what counts as an emergency, and an after-hours plan
Maintenance and turns
Move-out inspection and deposit deductions: normal wear and tear vs damage
Maintenance and turns
Smoke and carbon monoxide alarm requirements for rental units
Maintenance and turns
Lead-based paint disclosure for pre-1978 rentals: the pamphlet and the form
Maintenance and turns
Budgeting for capital expenditures and replacement reserves per unit
Running your portfolio
How to self-manage an apartment building: the weekly and monthly routine
Running your portfolio
Property management software for small landlords: what you actually need
Running your portfolio
Using ChatGPT or Claude to manage rental property
Running your portfolio
What MCP (Model Context Protocol) is and why it matters for property management software
Running your portfolio
Occupancy, economic occupancy and delinquency: the metrics that show how a property is doing
Running your portfolio
Self-manage or hire a property manager: how to compare the cost
Running your portfolio
The rent roll: how to keep one and how to read it
Running your portfolio
A monthly owner report for your own properties: what to include
Running your portfolio
How to switch property management software: a migration checklist
Running your portfolio
Texting tenants: consent and opt-out rules under the TCPA and carrier rules
Rent and payments
Can a landlord refuse to accept cash for rent?
Rent and payments
What happens when rent is due on a weekend or holiday?
Rent and payments
How long does an ACH rent payment take to clear?
Rent and payments
How do you prorate rent for a mid-month move-in?
Rent and payments
Do landlords have to pay interest on security deposits?
Rent and payments
Should a landlord accept rent from someone other than the tenant?
Rent and payments
What can a landlord charge for a bounced rent payment?
Rent and payments
What should a landlord do about a tenant who pays late every month?
Rent and payments
Can a landlord apply a payment to fees before rent?
Rent and payments
How should rent be split between roommates on one lease, and who owes what?
Accounting and taxes
Is rent paid in advance taxable in the year you receive it?
Accounting and taxes
Can you deduct a rental property loss against your other income?
Accounting and taxes
Does a rental property LLC need its own EIN?
Accounting and taxes
How do you record a mortgage payment in rental property books?
Accounting and taxes
Can landlords deduct mileage driving to their rental properties?
Accounting and taxes
How do you depreciate appliances and carpet in a rental?
Accounting and taxes
Can a landlord take a home office deduction?
Accounting and taxes
Can you deduct unpaid rent as a loss?
Accounting and taxes
Does rental income qualify for the QBI deduction?
Accounting and taxes
How long should landlords keep rental property records?
Leasing and tenants
How much can a landlord charge for a rental application fee?
Leasing and tenants
Is the "income must be 3 times the rent" rule legal, and how should you apply it?
Leasing and tenants
Can a landlord deny an applicant because of a past eviction?
Leasing and tenants
Month-to-month or one-year lease: which is better for an apartment owner?
Leasing and tenants
How much notice must a landlord give before entering an apartment?
Leasing and tenants
What is a lease addendum and when should you use one?
Leasing and tenants
How do co-signers and lease guarantors work?
Leasing and tenants
How many people can live in an apartment?
Leasing and tenants
Can a tenant sublet an apartment, and can the landlord say no?
Leasing and tenants
What happens when a tenant stays after the lease ends?
Maintenance and turns
How long can a landlord leave tenants without heat or hot water?
Maintenance and turns
Who pays for bed bug treatment in an apartment?
Maintenance and turns
What are a landlord's responsibilities for mold?
Maintenance and turns
Can a tenant withhold rent or repair and deduct?
Maintenance and turns
Do landlords have to test for radon?
Maintenance and turns
Should you repair or replace an apartment water heater?
Maintenance and turns
How do you winterize a vacant apartment unit?
Maintenance and turns
Who is responsible for appliance repairs in an apartment?
Maintenance and turns
How often should a landlord inspect apartments, and what should an annual inspection cover?
Maintenance and turns
What do apartment owners need to know about asbestos in older buildings?
Running your portfolio
Can ChatGPT do the bookkeeping for my rental property?
Running your portfolio
Can AI answer tenant messages for a landlord, and what are the risks?
Running your portfolio
What questions can a landlord ask an AI about their rentals?
Running your portfolio
How much does property management software cost per unit?
Running your portfolio
Do I need property management software for 10 units?
Running your portfolio
How do you manage an apartment building in another state?
Running your portfolio
What should you set up in your books and systems right after buying an apartment building?
Running your portfolio
Is it safe to give an AI app access to tenant data?
Running your portfolio
What should an owner do in the first 30 days after buying an apartment building?
Running your portfolio
How do you calculate a cap rate from your own property's books?
Comparisons
DoorKeeping vs AppFolio: what each costs and what each does today
Comparisons
DoorKeeping vs Buildium: plans, per-use fees and features
Comparisons
DoorKeeping vs Rent Manager: a deep toolkit next to a light one
Comparisons
DoorKeeping vs Yardi Breeze: $1 with a minimum, or $2 without
Comparisons
DoorKeeping vs DoorLoop: two takes on AI property management
Comparisons
AppFolio alternatives for owners with fewer than 50 units
Comparisons
DoorKeeping vs TurboTenant for apartment owners
Comparisons
DoorKeeping vs Baselane: bank first or books first
Comparisons
DoorKeeping vs RentRedi for owners with 5 or more units
Comparisons
DoorKeeping vs Stessa: rental bookkeeping and beyond
Comparisons
DoorKeeping vs TenantCloud: tiers or one price
Comparisons
DoorKeeping vs Innago: free for landlords, or free for tenants
Explore by topic
From the first rent you collect to the tax return at year end.
Rent and payments
Collecting rent on time, late fees, deposits and knowing who paid, for owners of apartment buildings.
- How much can you raise rent in California or Washington? The cap, worked out
- Who owes the security deposits after an apartment building is sold?
- Can a landlord shut off utilities if a tenant does not pay rent?
- RUBS utility billing: how do you split one water bill among apartments?
- How do you stop scammers from redirecting your tenants' rent payments?
- Do California landlords have to offer tenants rent reporting to credit bureaus?
Accounting and taxes
Books for every property: one LLC per property, Schedule E, reconciliation, 1099s and month-end close.
- Can you write off the old roof when you replace it on a rental building?
- I forgot to depreciate my rental property for several years. How do I catch up?
- What are the 1031 exchange deadlines when you sell an apartment building?
- Does the 3.8% net investment income tax apply to rental income?
- Can you take a Section 179 deduction on apartment appliances and improvements?
- Are repairs you make before a rental building is ready to rent deductible?
Leasing and tenants
Listing units, screening applicants fairly, leases, renewals and keeping good tenants.
- Can a landlord end a tenancy without a reason in Washington, Oregon or New York?
- How long does an eviction take in Florida, and what happens at each step?
- Can a tenant break a lease because of domestic violence, and what must the landlord do?
- How should a landlord respond to a reasonable accommodation request?
- What does the Section 8 tenancy addendum change in your lease?
- What can a landlord do with belongings a tenant leaves behind?
Maintenance and turns
Work orders, vendors, inspections and turning units fast without overspending.
- Do landlords need EPA lead-safe certification to do their own repairs?
- Do landlords have to provide air conditioning?
- How do Section 8 unit inspections work under NSPIRE, and what must owners fix?
- Can a subcontractor put a lien on your rental after you paid the contractor? The Florida rules
- How long does an insurer have to handle an apartment building claim in Texas and Florida?
- Can you still repair R-22 and R-410A air conditioners in your rentals, or should you replace them?
Running your portfolio
Self-managing apartments, software and AI tools, and the numbers that tell you how a property is doing.
- Will moving my apartment building into an LLC trigger the loan's due-on-sale clause?
- How much NFIP flood insurance can an apartment building get?
- Can you pay an on-site apartment manager with a free unit instead of wages?
- Do I need a rental license for my apartment building, and will the city inspect it?
- How do you appeal the property tax assessment on an apartment building?
- What does a landlord have to do after a data breach exposes tenant information?
Comparisons
DoorKeeping next to other property management software, with prices and features from each company's own pages.
- DoorKeeping vs Avail: price, tenant fees and what each does
- DoorKeeping vs Hemlane for owners with a few to a few dozen units
- DoorKeeping vs Rentec Direct: every published fee side by side
- DoorKeeping vs Landlord Studio for owners with a handful of units
- DoorKeeping vs Zillow Rental Manager: finding a tenant or running the building
- RentRedi alternatives for landlords with 5 to 50 units