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When should you get a property manager for your rental home? Learn about what to consider, common complaints about property management, and the alternatives.

Do You Really Need a Property Manager For Your Rental Home?

Managing a rental home yourself is no picnic. While there are plenty of people who can and do self-manage their homes on the rental market, it’s a challenging and time consuming job that many would prefer to outsource to a professional. 

So when should you look at getting a property manager — and what are the alternatives?

4 considerations for hiring a property manager

If you don’t like the idea of self-screening tenants or chasing down rent, hiring a professional property management company is a good idea. Here are five key considerations for homeowners who may need help managing their home on the rental market:

Self-managing a property from a distance is harder than if you live locally. A property manager can handle the day-to-day responsibilities on your behalf and provide regular updates and reports. 

If you have a busy schedule and don't have the time to devote to managing your rental property, a property manager can take on the responsibilities and free up your time. If your portfolio grows and you own more than one home on the rental market, the workload will grow too. A property manager can help you streamline the process and manage one or more properties efficiently.

If you are new to being a ‘landlord’ and are unsure about the responsibilities and regulations involved, a property manager can provide the expertise and experience to ensure everything is done properly.

High tenant turnover can be a sign that your property is not being managed effectively. A property manager can help you reduce turnover by finding and retaining high-quality tenants.

In theory, hiring a property management company can bring peace of mind to homeowners, knowing that everything is taken care of. From advertising and marketing the property, screening potential tenants, negotiating lease agreements, collecting rent, and handling maintenance and repair issues — they have it covered. 

But having a property management company on the books is no guarantee that any of these things will take place either. 

5 common complaints about traditional property management companies

The property management industry is extremely large and fractured — the quality of businesses and professionals you can work with varies wildly. Common complaints of traditional property management companies include:

You can only get hold of property managers during business hours and phone calls and emails go unanswered for lengthy periods. 

You sign up to pay a percentage of your monthly rental income, but find that your actual income check is considerably lower once all the additional fees come out for things like tenant communication, inspections, marketing, renewing leases and more.

Some traditional property management companies will suggest high rental prices to get homeowners excited about potential earnings, only to price renters out of the market and have high vacancy rates. Some will also continue to charge fees even when the home is empty, further eroding your investment earnings. 

Keeping high quality residents in your home is a priority for keeping your home profitable and well-maintained, but for some reason it’s commonplace for PMCs to treat requests as a nuisance. 

5. Costly rental recuperation and evictions

If the worst happens and the residents stop paying rent or breach their lease conditions and need to be evicted, a good property management company would step in and assist. The reality is, many continue to charge fees even when rent isn’t being paid and charge for the extra communication to serve notices about breaches. Even PMCs that offer eviction protection will typically only cover the issuing of the legal notice, capped around $500.   

What’s the alternative to a traditional property management company for rental homes?

If you’ve been burned by a bad property management company or are reconsidering your options, there are three alternatives for your home:

Hire your own staff or person to manage the home on your behalf

Opt for a modern-day alternative like Belong

If you’ve determined that you need property management, but aren’t sold on hiring a property management company there are options. You can build your own team, or you can opt for an alternative such as Belong — who is ditching the broken property management model to offer a better rental experience for both homeowners and their residents. 

6 ways Belong is different to a traditional property management company

Those common complaints that homeowners have about their property managers? Not an issue with Belong. As the world’s first residential network, we make renting lovable, by fixing what’s broken with:

1. We’re available any time of day or night

Belong homeowners and residents both get access to 24/7 support, with a dedicated concierge service available through the Belong app. 

2. We don’t hide fees or upcharge for essentials

No hidden costs for the essentials such as marketing and tenant communication, just transparent and reliable billing.  

3. We provide outstanding service to residents

Belong residents are considered to be members of our community, like homeowners. We reward them for paying rent on time and help them feel at home, so they stay for longer. We can even assist with rental insurance products, protecting both them and your home. 

4. More of our residents renew their lease

71% of our happy residents renew their 12-month lease, reducing the time between tenants in your home. With low vacancy rates and long-term residents, there’s less disruption to your rental income (and we don’t charge during vacancies, either). 

5. We guarantee rent and provide eviction coverage

Never get caught short, with guaranteed rent paid to you every month — regardless of when your residents pay. And with up to $15,000 coverage on evictions, you won’t be caught off guard in the event that we place a resident that breaches the terms of their lease. 

6. We have innovative finance options and perks for homeowners

Spread the cost of maintenance and repair work over the term of your lease with our exclusive finance options for homeowners. It’s just one of the many flexible financing options and innovative services on offer.

When should you get a property manager for your rental home? Learn about what to consider, the common complaints about property management and the alternatives.

The Los Angeles City Council is ending renter eviction protections on Jan 31 2023. Learn what this means for landlords starting Feb 1 2023 for rent and pricing

What Landlords Need to Know About the End of the LA Eviction Moratorium

Note: This article was accurate as of December 2022 and many of these rulings still apply in 2023. For a more updated look at eviction moratoriums and extensions across the country, check out the latest post from May 2023. 

The Los Angeles City Council voted 12-0 to end long-standing renter eviction protections due to COVID-19 hardship on Jan. 31, 2023. Beginning February 1, 2023, tenants must pay their full current monthly rent in order to avoid eviction for non-payment of rent. Landlords will be able to resume increasing rent on rent-controlled apartments, which account for three-quarters of apartments in Los Angeles, beginning in February 2024.

Los Angeles County enacted the COVID-19 Tenant Protections Resolution in March 2020 to protect residents from eviction during the pandemic. The resolution prohibited rent increases and evictions due to non-payment related to COVID-19 hardships. In November 2022, the County Board of Supervisors clarified which protections would end in 2023, and which would continue indefinitely. 

Eviction moratoriums have been implemented and modified multiple times over the past two years, and it can be difficult for landlords to keep up with the latest changes and requirements.

Belong homeowners benefit from expert advice and local guidance, as well as direct protections from non-payment, and services to aid in eviction proceedings when absolutely necessary. 

Which resident protections end January 31, 2023?

The bulk of the COVID-19 special tenant protections are currently scheduled to expire on January 31st, 2023, including:

Rent increase freeze. This means homeowners will be able to increase rent starting in 2023 in most cases. Homes that have had rent control protections prior to the COVID-19 Resolution will continue to have them. This includes homes under the Los Angeles Rent Stabilization Ordinance as well as those in cities who maintain rent control standards like Santa Monica and West Hollywood. If you are unsure if you are part of the Rent Stabilization Ordinance (RSO) please contact your Belong team.

Protections against evictions for specific circumstances. Under the resolutions, certain residents could not be evicted for non-payment of rent due between July 1, 2022 and December 31, 2022 due to a COVID-19 financial hardship. They could not be evicted in a No-Fault eviction unless the eviction was due to a qualified Owner Move-in to the property. And they could not be evicted for nuisance, or unauthorized occupants or pets. 

Which resident protections will continue indefinitely? 

Although the Los Angeles Board of Supervisors set significant parts of the Resolution to expire, there are still key protections that will extend for residential tenants who benefited from the County’s non-payment of rent protections in the latter half of 2022. Specifically: 

Residents cannot be displaced for No-Fault eviction reasons, except for qualified Owner Move-in Evictions. This means owners may only be able to evict residents if they plan to move into the property themselves. 

Anti-harassment and retaliation protections are still in place for affected residents.

Many Belong homeowners in Los Angeles County have expressed frustration and confusion over the frequent changes, but we’re here to help. While LA homeowners may soon be able to raise rents or evict problematic tenants, there are still fundamental protections in place that all homeowners should understand: 

1. Landlords must follow all local and state laws. Landlords are required to follow all local and state laws related to evictions, including any requirements for notice periods and procedures for eviction. Landlords who violate these laws may face penalties and fines. Not sure which laws apply to you? Your Belong concierge can help you understand. 

2. Tenants may be protected by other laws: In addition to the protections provided by the eviction moratorium, tenants may also be protected by other laws, such as the state's regular rent control laws or the federal CARES Act. Landlords should be familiar with these laws and how they may apply to their rental properties. You can find a list of the emergency rental assistance programs available by state here. 

3. Tenants must pay back rent eventually: While tenants have been protected from eviction for non-payment of rent due to COVID-related hardship, they will eventually be required to pay back the unpaid rent. Landlords can request a repayment plan or seek other remedies through the courts.Tenants who have not paid due to COVID hardships have a grace period to pay back rent owed: 

Rent owed from March 1, 2020 to September 30, 2021, tenants must pay by August 1, 2023.

Rent owed from October 1, 2021 to January 31, 2023, tenants must pay by February 1, 2024.

Belong guarantees rent and offers eviction assistance 

Instead of worrying about changing regulations and rent control, Belong homeowners earn guaranteed rent, paid to them each month even when residents are late to pay. Belong homeowners never have to worry about keeping up with local changes, as their local Belong team does this for them. And, in the unlikely event that residents must be evicted, Belong assists with the process so homeowners are never left stuck in the confusing legal system on their own.

Interested in learning more about Belong in Los Angeles and beyond? See if your rental home qualifies for guaranteed rent today at Belonghome.com.

Guaranteed rent, innovative financing, 24/7 support, a world-class app and cash referrals are just some of the ways Belong is leaving property management behind

6 New Ways Belong Flipped Property Management on its Head in 2022

Belong was born to disrupt the way renting works. To put home ownership into the hands of real people again, while providing a great experience for residents in the place they call home. 

After being failed by the property management industry for too long, Belong offers a unique humanized service that puts people first — supporting their financial freedom, a better experience when renting, or a move into home ownership. 

To create renting that people love, we have a team of local experts across the country that support members of our residential network every step of the way. We combine our people-power and expertise with impressive technology and innovative products making life easier for everyone too. 

We’re just getting started too, launching new improvements and products all the time. Here’s an example of six that were released in 2022 — with many more to come in 2023 and beyond. 

Belong’s app: Services at your fingertips, 24/7

You may have seen apps or online portals for things like logging service requests or paying rent. Belong’s new app is completely different, connecting everyone in our residential network to services they want and need. 

Rather than have a separate platform for homeowners and their residents, everyone uses the same, easy-to-use app to work with Belong. The app gives everyone 24/7 access to their concierge and a host of features at their fingertips — from paying rent and acquiring insurance to reviewing and approving repairs by our vetted network of over 10,000 professionals. 

Read More: The Belong App Just Got a Smart, People-Powered Upgrade

Belong homeowners have the option to finance anything they need for their home before or during their Belong membership — no down payment required. This means every homeowner on the Belong network can access our professional partner construction and maintenance services, while staying cash flow positive with Split It financing. 

Before a home is listed, Belong might recommend renovations that would increase the rental pricing and market value with great returns. With Split It, the costs could be spread over the duration of the resident’s lease. 

This gives homeowners complete control over their cash flow with no need to budget for repairs or renovations upfront. Every month you will still enjoy guaranteed rent, minus the Split It monthly installment. 

Split It financing is available for preventative maintenance, a fresh coat of paint, even a full kitchen remodel. It’s just another way Belong helps homeowners earn more rent, with less headaches. 

Insurance for residents: Renter’s liability coverage

Landlord insurance policies are great for homeowners, but they offer no protection to the residents living in their home. Belong now offers liability coverage policies to all residents, seamlessly added to their monthly rent. This offers better protection and peace of mind for everyone in our residential network should an accident or incident happen on a property managed by Belong.

Psst: We offer insurance for owners of rental homes too!

Subscribe to services: Set and forget regular maintenance

Homes need regular upkeep, so Belong has introduced a way to make sure preventive maintenance runs like clockwork. Add, pause or remove recurring services and maintenance subscriptions, right from the Belong app. From lawn mowing to gutter cleaning, set and forget your seasonal home maintenance and let Belong do all the work. 

Referral program: Share the love, earn cash

Know a homeowner who could benefit from Belong’s unique approach to home management? We’ve introduced a referral program, where you can earn $1,000 for every eligible homeowner referred and onboarded to Belong’s residential network. Learn more and get your unique referral code here. 

Read More: Introducing Belong’s Referral Program

Online listings integration: Get found, faster 

Did you know that Belong integrates into all of the popular listing platforms such as Zillow and Zumper? When you list with Belong, you’ll automatically be featured on all the top sites. This matters because it means, you’ll get 30-50% more views for your home as well as a direct feed of applicants from these sites into the Belong system. This lets us contact potential residents quickly and find the best applicant faster than a traditional property manager could. 

It’s another way that Belong reduces vacancy times and costs for homeowners, with 66% less vacancy than competitors and an average of 29 qualified applications for every home listed. 

Join Belong, the world’s first residential network

These new innovations add to a host of industry-disrupting services that Belong already offers homeowners and their residents, including:

Guaranteed rent, regardless of when its paid by residents

Maintenance and renovation services, provided by vetted partners in our 10,000+ strong network

Full transparency over fees with no sneaky extras like setup costs and lease renewal charges

Real 24/7 concierge-level support for both homeowners and residents, not just emergency logging 

Protection for homeowners against evictions with up to $15,000 of coverage against legal fees



True market data and real-time interest from potential residents that maximizes the value of homes on the Belong network



Credit to residents for every on-time rental payment, with can be built towards getting priority access to future rentals or even buying an eligible home on the Belong network in future 


Ready to learn more about how Belong is changing the world of home management and renting forever? Belong is simplifying the rental experience and helping more homeowners reach their financial goals through real estate. Visit our homeowner's page to find out more about how our services are helping people to ditch property management in Seattle, San Francisco, San Diego, Los Angeles, Tampa, Orlando, Jacksonville, Miami and many more.

Looking for a place to Belong? Become a resident by searching for available homes.

What every property manager needs to know about making sure their house is set up for a safe winter.

Winterizing Your Rental Properties: Do You Need To Do It?

Not so fun fact — at least, if you’re a landlord: every year, winter storms cause billions of dollars worth of damage to homes in America. In 2021, that total was over 15 billion. 

Sure, that number was inflated because of the blizzards that hit Texas in 2021. But there are two ways to look at that: you can write it off as a freak occurrence; or you can accept that the climate is changing on a global scale, and that it is increasingly difficult to predict what winter will hold for any and every biome.  So even if your property is located in a climate that typically doesn’t experience harsh winter weather, you can’t be sure the years to come will be typical. 

That’s why we encourage every homeowner to be familiar with the basics of home winterization. 

Many of the tasks associated with winterization you can accomplish on your own.  Some, though, take a level of expertise that your average homeowner does not possess. And considering how high the stakes are, it’s worth finding an expert who can help.

Benefits of Winterizing Your Rental Property

Efficient furnaces will still waste energy (and dollars!) if your home has air leaks. A well-maintained heating system, well-sealed windows and doors, and quality insulation won’t just keep your residents warm and toasty, they will also save on energy costs. 

Pipes are likely to freeze if weather dips below 20 degrees fahrenheit. Don’t wait until a cold front is predicted - by then it may be too late! 

Critters that would normally avoid being close to humans may creep closer as the weather grows cold. Spraying for bugs, sealing holes and air leaks, and cleaning your chimney can help avoid extra “guests” during the winter. 

If your rental home’s heater breaks during cold weather, you are likely legally obligated to get it repaired within 24 hours in most states. These maintenance emergencies are not only annoying and unsafe for your residents, they are also costly for you! An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure - schedule regular maintenance on furnace and HVAC systems before winter sets in.

Do I Really Need to Winterize My Rental Property?

Will these benefits of “winter proofing” apply to you? There are three main factors to consider when preparing for winter as a rental home owner: local climate, home vacancy, and landscaping. 

Even milder climates (i.e. Texas or California) may want to consider basic winterization, but locations with snow and ice should definitely expect to prepare their property for the harsher months. A good litmus test is if your residents will likely use heat for the majority of the winter. Even climates without snow can be cold enough to impact energy usage and plumbing. 

If you have water features in the landscaping

Ponds, waterfalls, pools, or any other water feature exposed to the elements should be winterized in most cases. A frozen pipe in a decorative landscaping feature can still cost you big bucks and plenty of headaches! 

This is especially relevant for short-term rentals (and one reason we suggest considering long-term rental properties instead). If you expect your property to be vacant for longer than 7 consecutive days over the winter, you should prioritize winterization. 

Think about it: all those leaves that have been falling off the trees have to end up somewhere. And those wet leaves can cause interior leaks and roof damage that occur because the water isn’t directed away from your house, and can end up getting behind shingles or window frames.

Not only can wind get through any cracks in your caulking, but heat can also get out. In both cases, the bottom line is your bottom line is negatively impacted: you have to pay more for heat to compensate. That’s one of the reasons we encourage self-managers to pay attention to the state of the caulk in their rental homes. 

You have to anticipate the damage winter storms can do to your property in general, not just the house itself.  Start with tree limbs – and entire trees – that are vulnerable to strong winds. Tree work can be expensive, so we advise you to get estimates that prioritize the trees closest to the house. Pay special attention to large trees that may require cables to hold together split trunks.

Make sure you move any outdoor furniture you have inside, or tie it down with bungee cords, or else they might become projectiles in windy conditions. The same goes for your grill. If you have a deck, you might want to give it an extra layer of sealant to protect it from the weather.  

While you’re in the backyard, be sure to shut off the water supply to hoses and water features, as well as drain them if they are full of water already. Even outdoor frozen pipes can be costly to repair and create a chain of plumbing issues. 

As your residents start running their furnace or space heaters, the risk fo carbon monoxide poisoning increases. A simple way to ensure they are kept safe is to annually check smoke and carbon monoxide alarms. 

This is an example of simple maintenance that you can do even if you’re not particularly “handy.” Most furnace manufacturers have helpful videos online showing you exactly how to check the status of the filters you have, and clean or replace them if needed.

Not only is it necessary in terms of making the house habitable during the colder months, but insulation can dramatically save on heating – as well as air-conditioning. The payback time can be as little as six months – or as long as three years, which really isn’t long at all.

In terms of immediate benefits, proper insulation is critical in terms of protecting your pipes. A little physics 101: in winter, water freezes, turning into ice; during that process, it expands. The added pressure can cause pipes to burst, which is not only a costly and time-consuming fix, it could cause damage to the property itself. 

It’s one of those situations where it doesn’t pay to cheap out: the stakes are so high that even if you could install the necessary insulation, we’d still recommend you call in someone to help. Because even a crack in a wall in an inopportune place is costing you real money.

Sparsh Mehta

I grow new markets and bring our industry-changing experience to homeowners and residents around the country. Lover of the Outdoors, Scuba Diving, Skiing, Hiking, Live Music, and all things Technology.

Afton Brazzoni

Adam Hanft

Lauren Slagter

Belong

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Afton Brazzoni

Adam Hanft

Lauren Slagter

Belong

Tyler Infelise