Provided by Rental Housing Journal
Generally, landlords are responsible for tree maintenance on their rental property unless the lease specifically states otherwise, tree experts say.
Trees are attractive to renters and potential tenants who want to live near beautiful trees so make sure the trees on your rental property reflect the quality of your rentals. Trees attract birds and purify the air to make living in your rental home more enjoyable.
It can be easy for a landlord to overlook tree maintenance until a tree emergency suddenly happens and then it is a sudden emergency tenants want taken care of.
So, it is important for landlords to evaluate and monitor the health and vitality of trees on their rental property and this is best left to an expert certified arborist such as those at Grove Tree Care in Oregon. Arborists should have credentials from respected institutions like the International Society of Arboriculture (ISA), as they are well-versed in the science and art of arboriculture. Staying current with the latest advances in tree health and safety is also important.
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Other tree services to consider from an arborist are:
- Tree Pruning and Trimming: Enhancing the beauty and safety of trees through skilled pruning.
- Tree Removal: Conducting safe and efficient removals when trees pose a risk or are no longer viable.
- Stump Grinding and Removal:Clearing away remnants for a clean and usable landscape.
- Tree Cabling and Bracing: Providing structural support to preserve and protect your trees.
- Emergency Tree Services: Responding swiftly to urgent situations with a 24/7 emergency service in Wilsonville, OR.
Also, as a landlord it is a good idea to monitor tree health on properties that adjoin your rental as trees from a neighboring property could fall and impact your rental and tenants.
Remember if you have trees on your rental property, it is important to control the growth. Also, you do not want tenants taking it upon themselves to cut down tree branches. So, tree maintenance should be part of your preventative maintenance.
Too, if you have questions on whether landlords are responsible for issues around trees, it is best to check with your attorney.
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By John Triplett
The Justice Department, together with 10 state co-plaintiffs, has filed an amended complaint in its antitrust lawsuit against RealPage to sue six of the nation’s largest landlords for participating in algorithmic pricing schemes that harmed renters, according to a release.
The amended complaint alleges the landlords — Greystar Real Estate Partners LLC (Greystar); Blackstone’s LivCor LLC (LivCor); Camden Property Trust (Camden); Cushman & Wakefield Inc and Pinnacle Property Management Services LLC (Cushman); Willow Bridge Property Company LLC (Willow Bridge) and Cortland Management LLC (Cortland) — participated in an unlawful scheme to decrease competition among landlords in apartment pricing, harming millions of American renters.
At the same time one of the landlords, Courtland Management, agreed to cooperate with the justice department and enter into a settlement to end the use of common rental-pricing algorithms and competitively sensitive data to set rents.
Atlanta-based Cortland manages more than 80,000 rentals in 13 states. A related federal criminal investigation that led to a May 2024 search of its headquarters has been closed, a spokesperson told ProPublica, which started the investigation into the pricing schemes.
The spokesperson said the company is “pleased” to announce the settlement. “We believe we were only able to achieve this result because Cortland has invested years and significant internal resources into developing a proprietary revenue-management software tool that does not rely on data from external, nonpublic sources,” the spokesperson said.
Acting Assistant Attorney General Doha Mekki of the Justice Department’s Antitrust Division said in the release, “While Americans across the country struggled to afford housing, the landlords named in the lawsuit shared sensitive information about rental prices and used algorithms to coordinate to keep the price of rent high.” The “action against RealPage and six major landlords seeks to end their practice of putting profits over people and make housing more affordable for millions of people across the country.”
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Justice Department Sues 6 Large Landlords
The amended complaint alleges that the six landlords actively participated in a scheme to set their rents using each other’s competitively sensitive information through common pricing algorithms. Along with using RealPage’s anticompetitive pricing algorithms, these landlords coordinated through a variety of means, including:
- Directly communicating with competitors’ senior managers about rents, occupancy, and other competitively sensitive topics.
- Regularly conducting “call-arounds.”
- Participating in “user groups” hosted by RealPage.
- Sharing information with competitors about parameters in RealPage’s software.
Co-plaintiffs in the case are the attorneys general of California, Colorado, Connecticut, Illinois, Massachusetts, Minnesota, North Carolina, Oregon, Tennessee and Washington.
RealPage Senior Vice President Jennifer Bowcock called the federal case “flawed” and said the company is “committed to vigorously defending ourselves and our customers against the DOJ’s accusations.” RealPage has already changed its software to remove nonpublic data, despite its view that its technology was legal and “pro-competitive,” she told ProPublica.
A White House report released in December estimates the nation’s renters overpaid by $3.8 billion in 2023. The White House cited RealPage as the primary provider of rental-pricing algorithms. Companies like RealPage use their tools to suggest optimal rent for landlords to charge.
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Provided by America Apartment Owners Association
As Southern California faces one of its most devastating fire seasons in recent history, the rental housing market in Los Angeles has seen troubling trends. Thousands of families displaced by the fires are struggling to find housing, and in some cases, rents are spiking alarmingly in areas affected by the destruction.
A recent investigation revealed a Bel Air home listed at $29,500 per month—nearly double its September price of $15,900. While the listing was later removed, the spike in rental costs reflects a troubling phenomenon: post-disaster price gouging. California law prohibits price increases of over 10% during a state of emergency, yet reports of rental price hikes continue to surface.
California Attorney General Rob Bonta urged residents to report suspected price gouging. “If prices look really out of whack—if they’ve increased from what you’re used to—report it to us. We’ll take it from there,” he said.
Michael Lens, an urban planning professor at UCLA, noted that the sudden influx of displaced residents is putting immense pressure on the rental market, particularly in communities adjacent to the impacted areas.
A Positive Response Amid the Chaos: Ratner Property Management
While some landlords have capitalized on the crisis, others are stepping up to support their communities. Ratner Property Management and Maintenance, an AAOA member, is one such example. They’ve taken meaningful action to assist displaced families and individuals.
“To our Los Angeles County communities: As the fires continue to impact families, friends, and loved ones, we at Ratner extend our deepest sympathies to everyone affected by this catastrophic devastation,” said Dena Palmer, a representative of Ratner Property Management.
Palmer explained how Ratner is working with property owners and landlords across Los Angeles County to offer special accommodations to displaced families such as month-to-month leases and waived move-in fees. Additionally, the company is providing free appraisals and assessments for fire-damaged properties.
“We aim to help families and individuals find safe spaces as Los Angeles rebuilds. For those whose homes have been damaged and require substantial renovations or cleanup due to fires and related damages, we offer free appraisals and assessments for debris and repairs,” Palmer emphasized.
Ratner’s commitment to aiding the community is a beacon of hope during these challenging times. Their team has been serving Southern California for over a century, demonstrating resilience and care when it’s needed most.
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Taking a Stand Against Price Gouging
The actions of Ratner Property Management and others like them highlight the importance of community support and fair practices in times of crisis. As landlords, property managers, and renters navigate the fallout from these fires, AAOA encourages its members to act with integrity and compassion.
If you witness or experience price gouging, report it through the California Attorney General’s website. Together, we can ensure that the recovery process is equitable and supportive for everyone impacted.
By showcasing both the challenges and the inspiring actions of members like Ratner, AAOA hopes to encourage others in the industry to lead with empathy and action during this time of need.
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