Certified Shaker | Landlord Training | What it Takes to be a Landlord |City Support for Landlords | Tenant Screening Cooperative | Property Management Information | Decorating Tips | Property Upgrades and Improvement | Landscaping Tips | Legislation | Landlord Networking

Certified Shaker 

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.

See listings of Certified Shaker properties.

Benefits of Certified Shaker

• Properties are promoted by the City as the best Shaker has to offer, receiving regional and national exposure, through Shaker Life magazine, promotional packets, print and radio ads.
• A photo and description of each property is included on our website with direct links to your email address and phone number.
• City Relocation Specialists show Certified Shaker properties to out-of-town prospects.
• Owners have access to technical assistance from our Housing Specialist on ways to improve property marketability.
• Free yard signs with the Certified Shaker name.

Criteria to Become Certified

• No current housing or fire code violations at the time of certification
• A current Certificate of Occupancy
• Property cannot be in foreclosure
• Spotlessly clean
• Freshly painted throughout
• Updated appliances and fixtures
• Appropriate landscaping

Rating System to Become Certified

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. 

Frequently Asked Questions about Certified Shaker. For questions not listed, please email us.

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

• Rental Home Owner Information Form
• Apartment Owner Information Form
• Certified Shaker Agreement Form

Landlord Quiz

How are your landlord skills? Take this Landlord Quiz and test your knowledge.

Landlord Training

A comprehensive landlord training program is offered in 2010 on Saturday, May 15 from 8:45 am to 4 pm and again, on Saturday, September 11 at the Stephanie Tubbs Jones Community Building, 3450 Lee Road. The program is designed for existing and prospective Shaker two-family landlords, but it is open to all. The program encourages superior property management and maintenance, provides professional training to owner-occupant rental property owners, and helps landlords maintain a 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:

• Ohio Landlord-Tenant Laws and Legal Issues
• Fair Housing Laws
• The Eviction Process
• Property & Business Management
• Property Maintenance
• City Requirements, Regulations and Programs
• Marketing Strategies

Seating is limited to 30 participants, so pre-register now!

Realtors and brokers can receive 6 CEU credit hours  for full attendance. Call Darlene English at the Housing Research & Advocacy Center, 216-361-9240, to reserve your seat.

What past participants are saying about the Landlord Training:

"The Shaker Landlord Training class exceeded my expectations exponentially. It was well thought out and offered insight from an experts point of view. The discussion among the participants was lively and invaluable. I endorse this program for any prospective or current landlord."
~ W.M.K., Shaker Heights landlord (September, 2009)

"The Shaker Landlord Training is loaded with information and laws to avoid pitfalls. It prepares landlords; even veterans, with useful resources and is an excellent way to network and connect with other landlords."
~ Jenny, new Shaker Heights landlord (September, 2009)

"I highly recommend this class to anyone who sincerely wants to know the legal way of operating their rental business. I take my hat off to the City of Shaker Heights. The instructors were top notch and definitely know their business."
~ Shirley Smith, Shaker Heights property manager (May, 2009)

"The seminar was fantastic! Each presenter was competent, knowledgeable and continued their support after the training. I still call them with questions."
~ E.S., new landlord (September, 2008)

What it Takes to be a Landlord

In an uncertain real estate market, homeowners may consider renting their unsold properties until the market improves. Operating a rental property can be a good way to afford your mortgage payment. It can, however, be a problem if unruly or unreliable tenants cause costly damage or fail to pay their rent.

Are you up to the challenge? If you have the temperament, you must also have a thorough knowledge of the basic practices and principles of being a landlord:

• First things first. In order to rent any property, the owner must first apply for a Certificate of Occupancy and obtain an interior and exterior inspection. The Certificate of Occupancy is required annually and an inspection is conducted every three years. Contact Housing Inspection at 216-491-1470 for both.
• Ohio Landlord-Tenant laws. Know your rights and responsibilities. Resource: the CTO (Cleveland Tenants Organization) at 216-432-0609 or visit the library and view “The Ohio Landlord Tenant Law” by Frederic White.
• Fair Housing. Learn to avoid discriminatory housing practices. Start here. You can also consult the Landlord Training Manual or call the Law Department at 216-491-1440 to register to attend a free fair housing seminar.
• Rental agreements. Use a current, carefully worded document. A novice landlord can be outsmarted by a professional tenant. An investment of a few dollars in a good lease can save you hundreds or thousands of dollars in eviction court. Attend a Landlord Training or view the City’s Landlord Training Manual.
• Learn to find good tenants. Use a professional tenant screening firm. The City has a cooperative agreement with Tenant Patrol, Inc. to provide such services at a discounted rate to all rental property owners in the Shaker Heights School District. This company is compliant with Federal requirements and has a positive history with the Better Business Bureau. Contact Jacqueline Patterson at 216-491-1333 for pricing and details or visit Tenant Screening Cooperative.
• Expect to make property improvements and have maintenance costs. General maintenance and minor repairs are typical expenses when you own a rental property. You may need to make improvements in order to attract and keep good tenants. Remember that regardless of what the lease says, or who causes the damage, the law holds the owner responsible for keeping a property up to housing code standards. Budget a minimum of ten percent of the monthly rent for such costs.
• Establish a reasonable rent. The rent you charge should be competitive within the community market. Contact the City Housing Specialist at 216-491-1333 for consultation and consider obtaining Certified Shaker status by participation in this complimentary, one-of-a-kind program.
• Make rent increases reasonable. Do not expect to raise  the rent annually. You will lose the best tenants, especially if you have made no improvements. It is more realistic to budget 2-3 percent increases every few years. The rental market and competition will also be factors.
• Keep good records of your contacts with prospective tenants. If you find yourself in litigation, documentation is critical.

City Support for Landlords

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.

Click on any box for further information.

You are ready to go!

If you have any questions, contact Tenant Patrol at Assist@TenantPatrol.com, toll-free (877) 490-2202, or via fax (866) 493-5111.

What Tenant Screening Reports do I need?

Screen every adult applicant; including family and friends, and order the same reports every time to ensure a consistent application process.

There are a number of different screening reports available and you need to decide what best suits your needs. Tenant Patrol offers a Basic package that includes the three most commonly requested reports (credit evaluation, national criminal history and eviction history) for $25.

To understand what each service report includes, click on the links below:

• Credit Evaluation (Tenant Scorecard) - $11
• National Criminal History Reports - including sex offender information - $10
• Eviction History - $9
• The Basic Package (3 services listed above) - discounted rate of $25
• Verifications: Employment, Previous Landlords, etc. - a la carte at various prices

Types of Screening Reports Available and their Importance

Credit Evaluation (Tenant Scorecard)

This provides you with a "pass/fail" or "conditional" assessment of whether or not the prospective tenant's credit evaluation is acceptable, based on pre-set industry standards. Instead of actually seeing their physical credit history, you will be informed if the applicant meets or does not meet the standards. For example, a prospect's income to debt ratio is calculated and analyzed. By providing credit information in this way as opposed to via copies of actual credit reports, you are spared the problem of interpreting these reports, the responsibility of proper storage and disposal of sensitive information as required by law, and can apply the same standards to all applicants consistent with good fair housing practice.

National Criminal History Reports

This report may reveal any felonious or misdemeanor activity, warrants and criminal activity, including registered sex offenders. This information is important to you because:

• You can be held responsible for renting to a person with a criminal record who commits crimes because you place your other tenants and neighbors at risk.
• If the tenant violates the City's criminal activity nuisance ordinance, you could be held liable for the cost of Police calls to the rental property.
• It can describe the nature of the offense; providing enough information to determine the severity and whether this is an individual to whom you want to rent.

Eviction History

This report may reveal several important things:

• If a prospective tenant has a history of paying rent late or not paying rent.
• If there are damage claims against them by landlords (e.g. for destruction of property).
• If there are any judgments or filings against them by landlords.
• If they have a history of evictions.

You can easily check the local court dockets to search for evictions in specific communities; however, a professional firm can search state and national eviction databases.

Verifications

Verifications are a means of confirming information stated on a rental application. Here are just some of the verification services available from Tenant Patrol to either provide the confidence you need to sign a lease or a red flag that tells you not to proceed:

• Confirmation of employment - This service can verify the length of employment and help you to determine whether or not this prospective tenant can afford your deposit, rent plus living expenses by confirming the prospect's net monthly income.
• Confirmation of past landlord rental history - This is performed to determine whether the previous landlord listed on an application is actually that person. They will cross-reference phone numbers and names to confirm that the person is in fact the landlord listed as a reference. Tenant Patrol will call the stated landlord or property manager to gather payment history, complaints and the condition of the rental upon vacating.

Checking personal references is not a very useful practice because rarely will an applicant list an individual who would provide a poor reference.

For More Information: Contact the Neighborhood Revitalization Department and speak with Jacqueline Patterson at 216-491-1333.

Decorating Tips

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.

Property Upgrades and Improvements

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.

Landscaping Tips

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.)

Legislation

Learn what impact the Criminal Activity Nuisance Ordinance has on you as a property owner. View frequently asked questions about the ordinance. Did you know that you could be charged with the cost of repeated police responses to your property? Contact the Law Department, 216-491-1445, with any additional questions.