City of Shaker Heights - Landlord Connection

The City wants to work with its landlords to make them more successful. We provide landlords with the following services:

Certified Shaker encourages rental property owners to make their properties the best they can be and recognizes rental properties which meet or exceed the City's standards of excellence. This is the first program of its type in the United States.

Each room in your house will be evaluated and rated from one to five with five being the highest. Common areas, including the basement and the exterior of the house will be included. A house must score a minimum of four in order to be certified, but if any one category scores less than three, it will not be certified. To prepare for your preview visit, see Rental Home and Apartment Guidelines.

Once certified, owners complete the following forms in order for the property listing to be posted on the website:

Twice a year, the City of Shaker Heights offers a comprehensive landlord training. It is especially designed for existing and prospective Shaker two-family landlords. The program's goal is to encourage superior property management and maintenance, provide professional training to owner-occupant rental property owners and help our landlords maintain competitive edge in the marketplace.

The training is delivered by a team of professionals with expertise in the many facets of rental property ownership. Training is interactive, encouraging discussion of real-life situations and circumstances. Even experienced landlords gain valuable insights. View Landlord Training Manual. Topics covered:

Call Darlene English at the Housing Research & Advocacy Center, 216-361-9240, to reserve your seat. The next scheduled trainings are on:

Saturday, May 3rd and Saturday, September 13th
8:45 AM - 4:00 PM
3450 Lee Road
$35 per person

Various departments can support your improvement efforts. Whether you need a permit to put up a fence, replace windows, or add a new room, the City has resources to help. In addition, financial help is available. A Resource Center, on the second floor of the Community Building at 3450 Lee Road, is available to everyone 8:30 to 5:00 weekdays.

Tenant Screening Cooperative

Do you still rely on your first impression of prospective tenants when making rental decisions?
Are you confident that you have rented to a qualified and dependable tenant?

Confirm your best judgment by utilizing a reputable and professional tenant screening service.

The City has a cooperative agreement with Rental Services, Inc. (RSI Screening) to provide professional tenant screening services at a discounted rate to all Shaker Heights and Shaker Heights School District rental property owners.

This company is compliant with the recently enacted Federal Trade Commission Fair and Accurate Credit Transaction Act, holds a positive history with the Better Business Bureau and is a member of several national associations including the National Association of Screening Agencies.

Why Tenant Screening?

Save Money. Avoid renting to problematic tenants and you will save on repair and damage costs from the detriment caused by negligence and misuse.

Save Time. By using this professional service, all of the work is performed for you at a minimal cost in a minimal amount of time.

Reduce Stress. By permitting an impartial party to handle all background checks, you are able to be relieved of the entire process of reading credit and criminal background reports. You also are not responsible for possession of private information. Let them handle it all!

Good Business Practice: Having a neutral party conduct tenant screening for you is a recommended fair housing practice that encourages a consistent application process.

Types of screening reports available:

Credit history

Criminal background including sex offender information

Eviction history

History verifications: Employment, Previous Landlords, etc.

Click here for Tenant Screening pricing.
The Process:

Contact Jeff Malone at Rental Service, Inc. (RSI Screening) at 800-325-4793
Office hours: 11:30 AM-7:30 PM, Monday through Friday, 2:00 PM-6:00 PM Saturday.

Set up an account.

Complete the membership application and 3 required privacy forms. These may be downloaded directly from Rental Services, Inc.

Provide proof of ownership:
small landlords (1-100 units) a copy of your tax statement or closing document for the property AND a copy of a utility bill, property insurance or the property deed AND a copy of your valid driver’s license.
large landlords (100+ units) a copy of your tax identification number or business license AND a copy of your tax statement or closing document for the property AND a copy of your valid driver’s license.
management companies a copy of the management contract AND a copy of your business license or property list on company letterhead.

Limited Access Membership: no charge. A limited access account will not have access to the actual credit report, however, you will receive an approval or decline recommendation based on your own custom rental criteria. This is ideal for most small landlords.
Full Access Membership: $45.00 one-time setup fee. A 3rd party company must conduct an annual personal inspection of the business premises to approve compliance with the Federal Trade Commission’s Fair and Accurate Credit Transaction Act. This setup fee must be paid in advance before a property inspection will be scheduled. Full access membership allows you to receive actual copies of credit reports yourself.
For More Information: Contact the Neighborhood Revitalization Department and speak with Jacqueline Patterson at 216-491-1333 or visit Rental Services, Inc.

Property Management Information

An effectively managed property enhances the property values of the whole neighborhood and the City. We have selected some links to help you achieve success. These cover Ohio landlord/tenant law, landlord/tenant rights and responsibilities, Fair Housing Law, screening prospective tenants (application and credit check forms to download), eviction procedures and frequently asked questions. Look for the Landlord Connection under Community Links.

Tasteful decorating enhances the market value of your rental property. A well-groomed entrance draws prospective tenants to your front door. Tasteful decorating transforms a dismal and bleak space into one that is inviting and livable. Tasteful decorating can be an essential part of the plan to successfully market your rental property. Look for the Landlord Connection under Community Links.

We have valuable, current information on how to upgrade your interior systems, such as plumbing, heating and electrical, as well as exterior improvements such as driveways, roofs and windows. Call for assistance, 216-491-1370.

Your property has only one chance to make a good first impression, and landscaping plays an important role! Don't let poor curb appeal stop a potential renter from looking further. Call Victoria Mills at 216-321-5935, ext. 234 at the Nature Center at Shaker Lakes. Take advantage of free landscape plans, the Backyard Home Habitat program and consultations, when you use Ohio native plants and organic materials. Available citywide to all rental property owners. (In addition, find tips to help you enhance your property's landscaping in the Landlord Connection section of Community Links.)