From setting rent and evaluating applicants to issuing leases and onboarding new tenants, this section offers guidance on every phase of the leasing process. Explore best practices, legal requirements, and compliance tips to help you lease confidently and screen fairly—no matter the size of your property.
In this one-hour Zoom seminar, Sam Sorokin will walk housing providers through the lease renewal process, focusing on when renewing makes sense, when it may not, and how to approach the renewal “ask” thoughtfully and lawfully. (Originally aired 02/05/2026) Continue Reading
Understand the difference between Intellirent’s role and BPOA’s role. Learn what the platform handles, what BPOA helps you build through guidance and education, and why screening decisions always remain with the housing provider. Continue Reading
Choosing a property manager affects leasing, compliance, operations, and risk. Learn what Berkeley housing providers should look for and what questions to ask before hiring a management company. Continue Reading
As the end of the year approaches, it is the perfect time for rental housing providers to look back at the trends and challenges that shaped the leasing landscape in 2025. To help owners and operators stay ahead of the curve, BPOA hosted a special webinar with Kathleen Castro, Client Success Manager Continue Reading
In 2008, landlords could ask about criminal history—and often did. Today, Berkeley’s Fair Chance Housing Ordinance makes that illegal. This Then & Now column compares what landlords could do then versus what’s allowed now. Continue Reading
Planning upgrades between tenants? You don’t have to wait until the last inspection to advertise. Learn how to market mid-renovation safely, highlight improvements, and stay compliant with Berkeley rental rules. Continue Reading
E-bikes and scooters are ubiquitous, and California law stipulates that tenants have the right to keep them. Do your leases cover this? Learn what SB 712 requires and why BPOA’s Micromobility Devices Addendum should be part of every lease package - from the start!. Continue Reading
Intellirent billing is based on your settings at the time you send an application invitation. Deleting your credit card information will not necessarily prevent charges. Learn how to avoid surprise fees by confirming “applicant pays” before sending. Continue Reading
Breed lists aren’t a defense. ESAs and Service Animals are accommodations, not pets. Make individualized decisions; insurance isn’t an automatic out. Deny only for a current direct threat, fundamental alteration, or true undue burden, and document your reasoning. Continue Reading
A failed Intellirent verification doesn’t mean a failed applicant or a bad tool. Sometimes the information just doesn’t come back at all. Learn why that happens and how to follow up with your due diligence. Continue Reading
New laws and Berkeley’s RSO set strict rules for deposits, pricing, and lease terms. Learn how to advertise consistently, stay within deposit caps, and avoid pitfalls when negotiating rent with prospective tenants. Continue Reading
Not all reasons for denying a tenant are legal. Learn which characteristics are always protected, which criteria you can safely use, and why written standards matter in Berkeley’s strict rental market. Continue Reading
