A rental housing business is heavily influenced by the rules that federal, state, and local lawmakers dictate. Even so, political action and participation has always been among the least popular landlord or tenant activities. That attitude has cost both special interests dearly. Most lending institutions require larger down payments and charge a higher interest rate for rental property mortgages.
Insurance companies charge higher premiums and require a separate tenant policy for contents.
In almost all Ontario municipalities, rental apartment buildings are taxed at least twice as heavily as single-family homes and condominiums. The only long term self defense is participation in the process, particularly at the local level. Most residential property owners and management companies are small businesses, governed primarily by state and local law. The following are a few examples of some federal legislation and regulation that have an important impact on the rental property industry. Under the old provision, tenants received an automatic stay from eviction, forcing property owners and managers to petition the bankruptcy court to lift the stay - a process that took many months.