Action/Alerts

Most New Year resolutions revolve around renewed commitments to personal health and fitness. Rental property owners should begin 2024 by also re-committing themselves to the health of their relationship with their renters, the safety and quiet enjoyment of the premises, and the "physical fitness of their buildings.

Here are eight New Year's resolutions every rental property owner should consider adopting for 2024:

1. Improve renter communication
Communication between property owners and renters is essential for both parties. No matter how good your communications are now, they can always be improved. Provide clear information on issues like rent payments, maintenance requests, and other important topics so that renters understand what is expected of them (and you) as the New Year begins.

2. Be proactive with renter repair requests
If you're a renter, there are few things more frustrating than a property owner who ignores requests for repairs to your unit or takes forever to take action. Whether it's a broken light fixture or a stopped drain, make sure all outstanding repairs (even the smallest ones) are dealt with quickly and efficiently. Create a preventative maintenance schedule for your rental property in 2024. Keep your renters happy and avoid costly and time-consuming disputes in the future.

3. Ensure your property is safe and secure
While you're taking care of resolution #2, see that your rental property is up to modern security standards. Check locks and window frames. Be certain there are no potential entry points into the property that could be exploited by thieves or vandals. Likewise, make sure smoke and carbon monoxide alarms are correctly placed, installed, and operational.

4. Seek professional help when appropriate
If you are having problems with a renter that a simple conversation can't resolve, don't shy away from seeking legal counsel. If you're having repair or other building issue, don't try to fix it yourself unless you really know what you're doing. The "I can do it myself" approach can quickly get you in over your head, so know when seeking professional help is the right thing to do. With the ever-increasing complexity of landlord-tenant law, this is particularly true when dealing with legal issues.

5. Organize all your building- and business related paperwork
Make sure all documents related to your rental business—rental applications, leases, disclosures, and the like—are stored securely and in an organized fashion. Being organized works wonders in helping you stay on top of your paperwork, ensuring that everything is up-to-date and filed correctly for future reference. Laws regarding San Francisco rental property are constantly changing, so owners must stay up-to-date with the latest rules and regulations. For example:

• Have you verified that you're compliant with city regulations, such as the Housing Inventory (you need to complete the form in order to give your renters a rent increase), tenant disclosure documents, payment of interest on security deposits, etc.?
• Have you completed a Compliance Affidavit in the past five years, certifying that all decks and other exterior protrusions have been inspected by a licensed inspector? According to San Francisco Housing Code Section 604, outside wood and metal structures that are attached to apartment buildings—decks, balconies, landings, exit corridors, stairs, guardrails, handrails, and fire escapes—must be inspected every five years. The SPOSFI website contains a wealth of information on all aspects of the rental housing business in San Francisco, as well as all the required documents. If you're not already well versed, take the time to familiarize yourself with the rules and regulations pertaining to operating a rental property in San Francisco. You won't regret the investment of your time.

Declutter basements and storage spaces
After the holidays, as you and your renters discard old items, clutter will more than likely be an issue. San Francisco, with its small common areas and narrow tradesman entrances makes this task crucial. More than just a matter of visual aesthetics, unmanaged clutter can pose a fire hazard, a tripping hazard, and a comfortable nesting area for pests.

7. Take advantage of new technology
Give your renters the option of convenient online payment (direct deposit) to ensure that their rent is paid on time and reduce the need for difficult conversations with them about late or missed rent payments.

8. Attend SPOSFI meetings
Just as we attend our members' meetings to observe and evaluate city officials and candidates for local office, they too are observing us—asking themselves if we are engaged citizens and businesspeople working to make a difference or just a small group of malcontents. No stronger statement can be made on our behalf than a meeting room filled to capacity with informed and involved rental property owners.