Property Management - No. 0811

The purpose of the Property Management course is to provide the student with an overview of property management. The Course includes detailed discussions of the role of property manager, landlord policies, operational guidelines, leases, lease negotiations, tenant relations, maintenance, reports, habitability laws, and the Fair Housing Act.

The course is not directed toward a specialized student population. Rather, it is intended for those who may, in the future, pursue a variety of specialties such as residential management, commercial management, or even operation of their own property management firm. Recognizing that specialization is not possible without the basics, this course provides the basics necessary to begin the learning process.

Table of Contents

1. Propery Manager Role

• Types of Managers
• Employment
• Good Managers
• Responsibilities
• Associations & Designations
• Agreement with Owner

2. Landlord Policies

• Potential Tenants
• Current Tenants
• Rent Increases
• Damages / Emergencies
• Repairs / Remodels
• Tenant Disputes

3. Operational Guidelines

• Subject Matter
• Possible Guidelines

4. Leases

• Lease Terms
• Enforcement
• 'Standard' Selection
• Tenant Understanding
• Changes

5. Lease Negotiations

• Whose Form
• Drawing Lines
• Hard Issues
• Throwaways
• Insurance Carriers
• Egos
• When to be Quiet

6. Tenant Relations

• Security Deposits
• Privacy
• Termination
• Retaliation
• Subleasing

7. Maintenance

• Who Does it?
• Preventative vs. Repair
• What's Involved
• Conservation

8. Security

• Obligations
• Specific Issues

9. Reports & Records

• Report Types
• Details
• Management Records
• Property Manager's Own Records
• Computers

10. Habitability Laws

• City Codes
• Constructive Eviction
• Habitability Legislation
• Repair Statutes
• Exceptions to Repair Statutes
• Prerequisites for Tenant Remedies
• Tenant Remedies
• Severe Causality
• Closing the Premises

11. Fair Housing Act

• Laws
• Handicapped
• Familial Status
• Amendments
• Steering
• Block Busting
• Covered Housing
• Acts Not Prohibited
• Enforcement
• Agent's Duties
• Testers
• Texas Law

Appendix A: Sample Management Agreement

Appendix B: Sample Lease

The course contains several practice quizzes, exercises, and flashcards and is completed with a multiple choice exam.