1. Newport Rentals Service Program
2. Terms of Business
3. What Every Landlord Should Know
4. Equal Housing Opportunity
Choose leading rental property management experts Bellevue Realtors to take care of all your rental property needs. Our primary goal is to find your ideal tenant for you and manage your property in line with your expectations! If you own rental property and would like a no-obligation explanation of our full range of services, please contact us directly at 401-849-6086. Our property management agent will telephone you to view and discuss your property and draw up a property management contract that meets your exact needs, ensuring your property achieves maximum income potential. Currently we manage a range of properties ranging from single family homes, multi-families, single condominiums and apartments up to residential complexes. We provide a wide range of management services from year round rental support to the specialized needs of the seasonal weekly rental market.
Our first objective is to accurately collect and input a wide range of property data for inclusion in our online programs along with both digital picture images of the property and video footage of the interior and exterior of the property as well as of its local area. We find this to be extremely important to give online renters a full and in depth experience of your property. Our service is available to you online 24/7 to allow you to edit any property details or add new properties directly yourself should you so wish.
Once your property is entered we’ll advertise your property immediately to everyone using our internet based marketing program. The bellevuerealtors.com website is featured on our parent group’s website Raveis.com which receives 10 billion hits a year and 8 million visitors per annum. It has been in existence for over 15 years, is optimized for RI rentals and regularly appears in the top three of most generic RI online rental searches. We drive traffic to our website via a network of affiliated online relationships as well as a program of targeted local marketing and advertising aimed at driving potential renters to our site to view your properties.
Your designated rental agent will be your single point of contact for all of your needs and they will immediately co-ordinate with you to arrange showings of the property, pre-screen prospective tenants, negotiate contracts and provide ongoing support. Short or long term we align renters with your property and your needs.
Most of our rental listings are taken on an exclusive rental basis as we have found this to be the most expeditious way to get your property rented and managed. With an exclusive listing we can commit to advertising your property in an array of online and hard copy outlets that will ensure your property gets rented in the fastest time possible. In certain markets we do take non-exclusive listings but because we rely on the accuracy of the information that goes on our website we have found it very difficult to stay on top of the status of these type of listings and as such the information we provide to potential renters is often compromised as our records have not been updated in a timely manner.
As such we have a two tier term sheet covering both types of listing and your rental agent will be very happy to forward you a copy. I think you will find us very competitive and remember we can also offer property management and non-resident landlord services and we look forward to discussing your needs in more detail.
Searching for and finding the right tenant is a daunting task for any first time landlord, yet once you have signed the lease agreement, the work will have only begun. Knowing what is expected of you and your tenant is critical to a successful relationship. If a landlord is managing the property themselves they need to know how to manage the relationship with a tenant before the rental agreement is signed; and, knowing what rights you and your tenant have is an important of that process.
Know Your Rights
While state laws vary, among the rights you have as a landlord are timely payment of rent along with a reasonable use and care of your property. The tenant has a duty not to disturb neighbors and other tenants with excessive noise or other activities. You also have the right to determine how long the tenant remains in your property. Depending on the state law, you can decide whether to evict the person if they fail to pay rent. These are just a few of the basic rights.
In addition, a property owner can add other specifications into the lease agreement and have the tenant sign on. For example, a property in condominium community or senior citizens complex may have additional requirements that both property owner and tenant must meet.
For a full explanation of RI rental requirements please read the RI Landlord and Tenant Handbook which can be accessed through accessing the following link:
http://www.hrc.ri.gov/documents/2007%20Revision%20of%20L_T_Handbook2.pdf
Here is a link to RI general Laws as they apply to property:
http://www.rilin.state.ri.us/statutes/title34/34-18/index.htm
Know Their Rights
The tenant has a separate set of rights that create certain obligations for you. You are responsible for repairs and keeping the property in livable condition. The landlord must also make sure his or her property complies with housing codes in your area and any addition municipal rules. A first-time landlord would need to research local and state laws before renting.
Requirements for security deposits also vary from one area to the next. After subtracting any deductions for repairs, you have to return the balance to the tenant. Each of these is an example of how doing a little research or calling your local housing authority could save money, time and stress.
Choose the Right Relationship
Some property owners view their tenant as a potential friend and partner. The relationship can be collaborative with a lot of leeway given on both sides. Some landlords allow the tenant to choose paint colors, fixtures and other dйcor options, while others incorporate renewal bonuses into their leases. Some tenants allow the landlord to enter without formal announcements.
Others prefer a business-like or rule-based relationship. The lease agreement contains the rules and expectations. Other details can be put in the lease agreement regarding boundaries for when the owner can enter and make repairs. The same goes for rent payment, late fees and limits on uses and decoration.
Yet another option is to be hands off in the beginning. Some new landlords are not comfortable with handling day-to-day tenant affairs on their own. Instead, they hire a management company to collect rents and make repairs until they become more knowledgeable about the business of renting property. Deciding what type of relationship you want before you lease can be extremely helpful in finding the right tenant. It can also help prevent misunderstandings down the road
Property owners and managers are subject to the federal Fair Housing Act, which prohibits "any preference, limitation, or discrimination because of race, color, religion, sex, handicap, familial status, or national origin, or intention to make such preference, limitation or discrimination."
Bellevue Realtors supports Equal Housing Opportunity and we encourage users of our site to follow appropriate guidelines to comply with both the Federal Housing Act, as well as any applicable state and local regulations. All renters and landlords are hereby informed that all property rental offers are available on an equal opportunity basis.
Property Owner's & Manager's Responsibilities
As a property owner or manager you have a responsibility and a requirement under the law not to discriminate in the rental of property on the basis of race, color, religion, sex, handicap, familial status, or national origin. You cannot instruct your agent to convey on your behalf any limitations in the rental because your agent is bound by law not to discriminate. Agents in a rental transaction are prohibited by law from discriminating on the basis of race, color, religion, sex, handicap, familial status, or national origin. They are prohibited from complying with a request from the property owner or manager to act in a discriminatory manner in the lease or rental. Moreover, a property owner or manager cannot establish discriminatory terms or conditions in the purchase or rental, deny that housing is available, or advertise that the property is available only to persons of a certain race, color, religion, sex, handicap, familial status, or national original.
Renter's Rights
As someone seeking to rent an apartment, home or condo, renters have the right to expect that housing will be available to them without discrimination or other limitations based on race, color, religion, sex, handicap, familial status, or national origin. This includes the right to expect equal professional service, the opportunity to consider a broad range of housing choices, no discriminatory limitations on communities or locations of housing, no discrimination in the pricing or financing of housing, reasonable accommodations in rules, practices and procedures for persons with disabilities, and to be free from harassment or intimidation for exercising your fair housing rights.
The following laws apply:
A. Civil Rights Act of 1866
The Civil Rights Act of 1866 prohibits all racial discrimination in the sale or rental of property.
B. The Fair Housing Act
The Fair Housing Act declares a national policy of fair housing throughout the United States, making illegal any discrimination in the sale, lease or rental of housing, or making housing otherwise unavailable, because of race, color, religion, sex, handicap, familial status, or national origin.
C. Americans with Disabilities Act
Title III of the Americans with Disabilities Act prohibits discrimination against persons with disabilities in places of public accommodations and commercial facilities.
D. The Equal Credit Opportunity Act
The Equal Credit Opportunity Act makes discrimination unlawful with respect to any aspect of a credit application on the basis of race, color, religion, national origin, sex, marital status, age or because all or part of the applicant's income derives from any public assistance program.
http://www.justice.gov/crt/housing/title8.php
E. State and Local Laws
State and local laws often provide broader coverage and prohibit discrimination based on additional classes not covered by federal law.
IF YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS ON DISCRIMINATION
Call the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development.
You can contact HUD on the Internet at http://www.hud.gov/offices/fheo/index.cfm.