Landlord's Guide to Renting Properties in Ashburn

Introduction

I've come up with few questions to help the landlord think through the rental process. I'll be adding more content as necessary.

Heres' the standard Rental Application and Deed of Lease used by Northern Virginia Associations of Realtors (NVAR).


Questions for the Landlord

1. How long do you want the lease to be?

2. When can the tenants move in?

3. Will you allow pets?
a. Yes, No ,or Case-by-case
b. If yes, what kind of pets and how much pet deposit?

4. Will you allow smokers?

5. Will the rent include any of the following?

a. HOA and/or condo fee.
b. Lawn mowing service
c. Maid service
d. Social fee (Belmont Country Club)
e. Transfer fee (Belmont Country Club)
f. Others

6. What does HOA/condo fee include?

7. Do you want to charge repair deductible?

8. Do you want to include an escalation clause?

9. Is there any special terms you want to include?

10. Is there a move-in fee? This applies mainly to condos.

11. Does the HOA/condo management need to be notified for the move-in?

12. When do you want the property to be on the market?

13. Showing instruction.

14. Showing days and hours

15. Remove shoes?

16. Any items that won’t convey?

17. Built before 1978?

18. Parking space or garage numbers?

19. Mailbox number?

20. Key and floorplan?

21. List the features you like best about your property?

22. Is there any known issues with mold, radon gas, lead-based paint, etc.? If so, you would need to disclose to the potential tenants.

23. Are you in the military? If so, did you want to exercise Transfer of Landlord clause in the Deed of Lease?


Role of the Listing Agent

When you hire a listing agent, make sure they have experience with rentals. For some agents, rentals are not high priority. I take rentals along with rest of the Hahn Group very seriously. Our philosophy is that whoever is faithful with small things will be faithful with big things.

1. Market the property.
a. MLS
b. Craigslist.com and various online classifieds.
c. AshburnRent.com (comoing soon)

2. Screen tenants.
a. Run credit report.
b. Verify employment if applicable.
c. Verify rent history if applicable.

3. Draft Standard NVAR Deed of Lease.
a. You may want to have it reviewed by an attorney.

Once the lease has been signed by both parties, the listing agent’s duty is fulfilled. The landlord has to deal directly with the tenant from this point going forward. The landlord can choose to hire a property manager who then will handle everything related to the rental. Property manager will charge up to 10% of the monthly rent but at least the landlord doesn't have to worry about the issues related renting.


Landlord’s Checklist After Deed of Lease is Signed

1. Provide utility information to tenant.
2. Provide HOA and/or condo document to tenant
3. Provide property condition report to tenant within 5 days of start of lease per paragraph 17 of Deed of Lease.
4. Provide condo management number to coordinate move-in for tenant if applicable.
5. Sign any paperwork allowing the tenants to use the HOA/Condo ameneties.
6. Verify that tenants have renters insurance with landlord as the insured.
7. Notify condo association and provide a copy of the Lease if applicable.
8. Notify insurance agent to convert to landlord policy.

This page is work in progress. As I think of new issues, I'll add them to this page.


This is for informational purposes only. No warranty is given for the accuracy of the content in this material. This should not be viewed as a legal advice. Please consult your attorney with any questions.