Landlord/Property Associations

A landlord or apartment association is a real estate organization made up of individuals, including:

• Landlords
• Real estate investors
• Rental property owners
• Property management companies and housing providers
• Realtors, salespeople, and other real estate professionals

The members of an apartment owners association or rental housing association have common goals. They will often be located in or own multifamily investment property in the same city or state. Apartment associations are formed with several goals and member benefits in mind, including:

• Creating an opportunity for landlords to organize their efforts to impact laws
• Advancing local and state landlord-tenant, property, and land-use legislation and regulations
• Allowing landlords to network with other local property owners
• Referring reputable contractors, vendors, and management services
• Providing tenant screening systems and other residential property services to owners

Besides general advocacy, rental housing industry associations offer educational membership benefits. For example, apartment associations may provide webinars to landlords and property managers about:

• New and ongoing renter eviction proceedings
• Developments in landlord-tenant and property law
• Real estate investment vacancy rates
• Fair housing issues in counties and municipalities (e.g. Greater Los Angeles, Alameda, San Antonio, San Diego)
• Properties for sale in a geographic area (e.g. California, New York, Texas)

Getting Involved

Apartment associations hold regular meetings at local establishments or meeting facilities. They may take further communication steps, including the publication of:

• Newsletters
• Forums and bulletin boards
• Online resources, including membership directories

Perhaps you're a landlord, property owner, or property investor in a city. You may have the opportunity to get involved in a landlord or apartment association. Talk to your fellow property owners or contact your local housing department to find out more.

Another good place to start is the National Association of Independent Landlords. Many cities also have their own landlord and apartment associations, such as the:

• Pennsylvania Apartment Association
• California Apartment Association
• San Francisco Apartment Association
• Santa Barbara Rental Property Association

Enter the name of your city and "landlord association" into a search engine to get an idea of what's out there.

Need More Help? Explore Your Legal Options

You may be struggling with a local law affecting your rental property. Perhaps you're just curious about the legal options available to you. All kinds of problems can affect an investment property owner. Whatever the case, the advice of a legal professional can come in handy. A landlord-tenant attorney or real estate lawyer can give you advice. They can be a great resource on advancing landlord rights.