The Property Pulse by LandlordDoc | August 1st, 2025

Here’s your recap of the latest developments in the rental management industry from the past few weeks. This issue covers a key update to all Maryland leases and a dip in the percentage of rent paid on time – nationwide – from June to July, along with other headlines and topics worth noting.

📣 This Week's Headlines

• Maryland now mandates Tenants' Bill of Rights in all leases: Landlords must update templates by July 1 per state law (source)
• California restricts convenience and service fees: New laws ban check-processing fees and reorder-based screening delays (source)
• Rental payment performance hits post-pandemic low: Only 83.6% of tenants paid rent on time in July for independently managed units (source)

⚡ Quick Win of the Week

• What: Offer move-in concessions instead of cutting rent.
• Why: With 35.2% of listings now offering concessions (NerdWallet), this strategy protects long-term rent rates while reducing vacancy.
• How:
  • Offer first-month rent discounts or waive application fees
  • Advertise limited-time promotions in listing headlines
  • Track application volume before and after changes
    • Cost: Free–$200
    • Time: 2–3 hours total setup + monitoring

📊 By the Numbers

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🏗️ Market Pulse

• New Supply Alert: 478,000 multifamily permits issued in June 2025, up 8.1% from May (RealPage)
• Permitting Surge: Multifamily construction starts jumped 30.6% MoM in June (YieldPro)
• Watch This Space: Vacancy rate reaches 7.1% — may pressure rent growth in Q4 (Apartment List)

⚖️ Legal & Regulatory

• 📍 Maryland: Tenants' Bill of Rights now required in all lease agreements
• Impact: Non-compliance risks fines and lease invalidation
• Action Required: Update lease templates immediately and distribute translated versions by July 1, 2025
  → Read the full requirement
  → Consult local attorney for specific compliance requirements

Quick Tip: Even if you're not in Maryland, it might be worth adding something similar to your own lease agreements. Take a moment to download Maryland’s Tenant’s Bill of Rights and see what’s included. You may find ideas to create your own version—something that helps educate and build trust with your tenants, no matter what state you're in.

🧰 Tool Spotlight

• Featured: Hummingbird by Tenant Inc.
• Best For: Automating move-outs, maintenance, and mobile field ops
• Pricing: $95/month for portfolios under 25 units (source)
• Bottom Line: Worth it — powerful automation features now built for small landlords

🔬 Research Roundup

• Study: “Independent Landlord Rental Performance Report – July 2025” by Chandan Economics
• Key Finding: 24-month streak of YoY declines in on-time rent payments; now at 83.6%
• Takeaway: Screen for financial stability more rigorously and adjust cash flow expectations
  → View report

How to Raise Rent on a Tenant

If you have been a landlord for a while, then you have likely been faced with the dilemma of when and how to raise the rent on your tenants and whether you should even consider it in the first place.

Landlord DocThe Landlord Doc

🔮 Looking Ahead

• 📊 July rent trend reports from Zillow and Apartment List expected next wee
• 🔧 August marks peak for maintenance requests — inspect HVAC units now
• 🏛️ Watch for Q3 updates to landlord insurance premiums in high-risk areas

Landlord Insurance: What It Covers, Why It Matters, and How to Protect Your Rental Income

Sometimes called rental property insurance, landlord insurance covers the specific risks landlords face, including property damage, liability claims, and loss of rental income.

Landlord DocThe Landlord Doc

📌 Save This

• Avg. Days to Lease: 28 days (Apartment List)
• Security Deposit Best Practice: 1–1.5x monthly rent
• Peak Listing Days: Thursday is the best day to list both rentals, and properties for sale (Source 1; Source 2); Most renters tend to search for their new rental home on weekends (Source)