This document summarizes a landlord/tenant seminar given by Attorney James P. Hentz. It provides tips for landlords to reduce the risk of a non-paying tenant, such as checking references with prior landlords and doing a credit check. It also outlines different types of leases, how to properly handle security deposits and last month's rent, and potential legal pitfalls landlords should avoid, such as failing to address safety issues that could result in tenant lawsuits.

1. Landlord/
Tenant Seminar
James P. Hentz
Attorney at Law
Law Office of James P. Hentz, P.C.
Executive Park Suites
255 Park Ave.
Suite 1000
Worcester, MA 10609
James@JHentzLaw.com

2. TO REDUCE THE RISK OF A NON-
PAYING TENANT, YOU SHOULD:
1. Check with prior Landlords
2. Credit Check
3. Verify Employment

3. TYPES OF LEASES
Tenancy at Will
Tenancy under Lease

4. SECURITY DEPOSIT & LAST
MONTHS RENT
•Advance Payment •A Security Deposit
of the 1st month’s •The cost of
Rent purchasing and
•Advance Payment installing a key &
of Last Month’s Lock
Rent

5. HANDLING SECURITY DEPOSITS
1.Place deposit in 3. Give Tenant a
escrow account receipt that
shows amt. of:
• deposit
2.Transfer the • Landlord’s
deposit to any Name
new owners • Bank Account
Number of
where Security
Deposit is held

6. HANDLING SECURITY DEPOSITS
(Cont’d)
4. Give tenant statement of current
condition of premise
5. Pay Tenant the Bank Interest per
year or 5% interest per year on
the deposit

7. HANDLING SECURITY DEPOSIT
(Cont’d)
6. Keep records regarding
security deposit & make
available to tenant
7. Deduct only unpaid rent,
certain taxes & for
damages to premise

8. ADDITIONAL PITFALLS TO
AVOID
Landlord
a. Landlord must not d. Tenant w/hold rent
antagonize Tenant if Landlord violates
b. Landlord must rental agreement
provide Habitability e. Tenant has tort
conditions
action against
c. Landlord liable for
actual & Landlord w/unsafe
Tenant
consequential conditions

9. ADDITIONAL PITFALLS TO
AVOID (Cont’d)
 Put Tenant on notice of
lead Paint
 Utilities have to
be included in any
written Agreement

10. Questions?

11. Thank you!
~Attorney Jim Hentz