Posts Tagged ‘tenant screening’

Manitoba Landlords Rent Increase Guideline For 2016

Saturday, December 5th, 2015

Manitoba landlords rent increase 2016

Manitoba Landlords Can Raise the Rent 1.1% in 2016 (For Most Rental Properties)

Experienced and successful Manitoba landlords know the importance of renting out a safe and well maintained unit.  An attractive rental property will lead to more qualified tenants wanting to rent from you and that will help during your professional tenant screening process.

This is why you need to make sure your rent is at a level which will allow you to afford maintenance and any repairs or improvements which may be needed. With increased costs professional Manitoba landlords have told us they need to raise rents in order to to keep up.

How Much Can Manitoba Landlords Raise the Rent in 2016?

With higher costs landlords and property investors want to know who much they can raise the rent. After all, taxes are higher, and utility bills, along with higher prices for plumbers, contractors and electricians landlords are also increasing. This means landlords need to make sure they can run a viable business and that their investment in residential rental property makes sense (and doesn’t take them to the cleaners!)

This is a similar concern for private residential landlords across Canada. Lets see how much landlords in other provinces can raise the rent in 2016.

1. Ontario Landlords.

Ontario landlords can raise the rent by 2%

2. BC landlords

BC Landlords can raise the rent by 2.9%

3. Alberta landlords

Alberta Landlords are lucky as due to the free market system there landlords can raise the rent by as much as the market will accept annually (as long as they give their tenants a lot of notice).

Manitoba Landlords Can Raise the Rent By Only 1.1% in 2016

According to the provincial government Manitoba landlords can only raise the rent by 1.1% in 2016. Is this fair?

Does this cover your increasing costs to maintain a high quality, well maintained and safe property? Many landlords don’t think so. Such a low allowable increase will lead to potentially serious financial pressures on good landlords who want to take care of their rental properties, improve the quality of rental stock of our province, and take care of renters.

Are landlords truly appreciated in Manitoba?

This a question many landlords and property investors are asking. Are we truly appreciated for taking the financial risk of buying a property and renting it out at an affordable price?

With such a low allowable rent increase smart landlords know that tenant screening becomes more important than ever. Because you are not allowed to increase the rent as needed renting to tenants who don’t take great care of your property can lead to major expenses.

The good news is there are lots of good tenants out there. Just make sure you screen your tenants carefully, including running a credit check, to find them. Landlords across Canada know the importance of renting to good tenants.

Manitoba Landlords Are You Going to Raise the Rent in 2016?

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Tenant Screening Manitoba: Tenant Credit Checks

Sunday, November 3rd, 2013

 November 3rd, 2013

Manitoba landlords tenant credit checks

Tenant Screening Including Tenant Credit Checks Is the Key For Success

Small residential Manitoba landlords are being treated unfairly.

You only need to look at the ridiculous allowable rent increase guideline for 2014 which is set at 2 percent.

Where’s the Media for Small Landlords?

The only story that received much media attention recently was about heating in large buildings.

Last month, Winnipeg City Council created fine system for landlords who fail to abide by minimum heat standards

It was a huge story on CBC news.

What Does This Have To Do With Small Landlords?

Very little.

Most small landlords either :

1. Rent Out Their Basement

So of course they will keep on as they share the unit with their tenants

2. Own a Duplex or Triplex or Other Small Unit

They will certainly keep the heat on. Not only for their tenants but for the protection of their rental investment property.

No heat equals frozen pipes and potentially thousands of dollars in needed repairs to fix them.

Where Is the News About Tenants Who Cheat Landlords Out of Rent and Do Damages?

Sadly, the media usually avoids these stories, even though there are so many landlords with these challenges.

Where Is the News For All the Good Small Landlords in Manitoba?

It’s almost non-existent.

It’s politically correct to blame everything on the landlord.

Neither the media or the government will promote or protect small landlords.

Who Represents All the Good Small Landlords Out There?

We’re trying. Help us out.

It isn’t easy with the media against us.

And the old established corporate landlord groups very happy to cooperate with the government.

And who won’t dare really challenge the government policies against landlords.

What Can Landlords Do?

The key is to find good tenants and avoid the Manitoba system.

How Can I Find Good Tenants?

It’s important for landlords all over Manitoba to do proper tenant screening.

This includes tenant credit checks and tenant criminal checks.

How Can I Do a Tenant Credit Check?

Join the Manitoba Landlords Association and you have access to high quality and low cost tenant checks you can do from your own home or office computer in minutes.

Manitoba Landlords Don’t Rely On the Government For Help

Times have changed. The government is not looking out for you!

Tenant screening is the key for success.

Protect yourself. Protect your family.

Protect your rental business!

Join the MLA and start doing premium tenant screening.

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PROVINCE ADVISES MANITOBA RENT GUIDELINE SET AT 2% FOR 2014

Thursday, September 5th, 2013

 September 4, 2013

Manitoba lanldlords 2014 rent increase guideline

Residential landlords all over Manitoba are facing increased pressures these days.

It could be bad tenants or changes in the ways we can legally conduct business (because that’s what we are – business people running a business).

Increased Costs

 We also face increased costs.

 Whether it’s insurance, taxes or the price of hiring good contractors to keep our property safe and attractive, it’s becoming more expensive to be a landlord in Manitoba.

Fortunately we can try to recover our costs by raising rents, right? Many landlords have emailed us saying that at a minimum their costs are rising by 5% each year. We repeat – that’s the MINIMUM. Many landlords have figures which far exceed 5%.

To counter these costs many small and medium residential landlords need to raise the rent. When you include the fact many landlords are being forced to leave their properties vacant if they can’t find a good tenant and a fair rent is more important than ever like in other anti-landlord provinces such as Ontario.

How Much Can You Raise the Rent in 2014?

On a Sleepy End of Summer Friday Afternoon the Government Announced the 2014 Rent Increase

Remember last Friday? Last Friday in August. Start of a long week-end. You had the barbeque ready, friends coming over, and your kids were excited for the last week-end before school.

That was the day the government announced the 2014 Rent Increase Guideline

Here it is in all it’s non-glory:

“Manitoba Healthy Living, Seniors and Consumer Affairs advises the 2014 rent guideline has been set at two per cent and will take effect Jan. 1, 2014.

The guideline is determined annually and takes into account cost increases such as utilities, property taxes and other expenses in the operation of a residential complex.  Manitoba has proposed legislation that would make future calculations as transparent as possible.  It is anticipated a prescribed formula or the consumer price index for Manitoba would be used to help determine the guideline rate.”

That’s right. Only 2%

Landlords can apply for an increase above the guideline if they can show the guideline will not cover cost increases they have incurred. 

Tenants must receive written notice of a rent increase at least three months before the increase takes effect.  For example, for a rent increase to take effect Jan. 1, 2014, tenants must receive notice by Sept. 30, 2013.  With few exceptions, rent can only be increased once a year.

Tenants have the right to object to any rent increase, whether it is below, at or above the guideline. Objections must be made at least 60 days before the rent increase is set to take effect.”

Maybe it’s time all landlords in the province remember this when the next election comes.

To discuss this and other Manitoba landlord and tenant issues go to the Manitoba Landlord Forum.

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Floor Stomping Set Off by Loud Music Leads to Stabbing

Monday, September 3rd, 2012

September 6th, 2012

 

Floor stomping set off by loud music leads to stabbing

 

What Happened?

Loud music and a floor-stomping tenant led to a woman being stabbed in an Agnes Street apartment Tuesday night, police said.

Who Got Hurt?

The 36-year-old woman is in stable condition in hospital.

Police said the woman and two men were socializing in a suite while playing loud music around the supper hour.

Why Did this Happen?

A tenant directly above the group took offence to the noise and began jumping on the floor in an attempt to get the partiers to turn down the music. Two men from the party confronted the upstairs tenant, then returned to the downstairs suite, police said.

Then What?

The upstairs tenant pursued the men and forced his way into the lower-level suite with a knife, then stabbed the woman, police said.

Who is the Suspect?

A suspect was arrested near Agnes Street and Wellington Avenue about three hours later.

Who Is He?

A 42-year-old man is facing a charge of assault with a weapon. He was released on a promise to appear in court.  His name was not released.

It’s important to screen tenants.  Like our friends at the Ontario Landlords Forum show, avoid “Tenants From Hell!“.

 

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