Blog

March 20, 2026 ICE activity at or near your rental property is stressful and fast-moving. For Missouri and Kansas residential investors and property managers, the goal is to (1) avoid obstructing law enforcement, (2) avoid voluntarily waiving tenant/property rights, (3) protect resident privacy and fair housing compliance, and (4) keep your team safe and consistent…. Read more »

January 20, 2026 Every year, we see first-time real estate investors lose money not because they bought the “wrong”property, but because they didn’t understand the legal, operational, and risk realities of owning rentalproperty.At our firm, most investor problems do not start in court. They start months or years earlier with decisionsthat felt harmless at the… Read more »

January 20, 2026 Security deposit disputes are one of the fastest ways for a routine move-out to turn into a demand letter orlawsuit. Missouri and Kansas both allow landlords to use deposits to cover unpaid rent and tenant-causeddamage, but both states also impose strict deadlines and meaningful penalties if the process is mishandled.This guide summarizes… Read more »

July 23, 2025 Missouri landlords are breathing a sigh of relief following the recent enactment of House Bill 595 (HB 595), a state law that overrides several local ordinances, most notably a Kansas City law that sharply restricted how landlords screen tenants and effectively forced participation in federal housing assistance programs like Section 8. At… Read more »

June 26, 2025 In the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic, landlords across the country faced unprecedented financial hardship. In Summer 2020, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) issued a nationwide eviction moratorium, effectively halting the ability of rental property owners to evict tenants for nonpayment of rent. While intended to address a public… Read more »

June 2, 2025 House Bill 595 (HB 595) – Passed HB 595, sponsored by Rep. Chris Brown, has been passed by both chambers of the Missouri Legislature and is now awaiting the governor’s signature. This bill prohibits local governments from enacting ordinances that: This legislation effectively overrides local ordinances like Kansas City’s 2024 source-of-income protection… Read more »

May 21, 2025 THE SICK TENANT Responsibility for the Tenant’s Health or Welfare Landlords in Missouri and Kansas generally have no legal duty to provide medical care or intervene in a tenant’s health-related matters. This holds true unless the landlord operates a care facility or similar arrangement where health obligations are contractually established. That said,… Read more »

April 23, 2025 As a landlord or property manager of a multifamily apartment complex in Missouri, one of your core responsibilities is maintaining the safety and comfort of your residents. When a visitor begins to cause disturbances, pose a threat, or otherwise overstay their welcome, you may need to take formal steps to bar them… Read more »

April 23, 2025 In a major development for affordable housing providers, the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) has finalized a rule mandating that landlords and public housing agencies (PHAs) must provide a minimum of 30 days’ written notice before initiating eviction proceedings for nonpayment of rent in HUD-assisted housing. The rule takes… Read more »

April 11, 2025 As a real estate investor in Missouri, selling a property “as is” can be a smart strategy – especially when dealing with flips, rental turnovers, or distressed properties. It’s a way to streamline the sale and avoid the time and cost of repairs. But there’s a common misconception we want to clear… Read more »

April 7, 2025 As a landlord in Kansas City, Missouri, it’s important to ensure that your rental business is not only profitable—but also compliant with local laws. One of the most frequently overlooked legal requirements is registering your rental units with the City. Failure to do so can result in fines, enforcement actions, or delays… Read more »

March 25, 2025 Missouri law, including specific ordinances in Kansas City, provides important housing protections for tenants who are victims of domestic violence, sexual assault, human trafficking, or stalking. As a landlord, it’s essential to understand what you can and cannot do in these situations to ensure compliance with state law and local ordinances—and to… Read more »

March 25, 2025 In Kansas, landlords are legally required to navigate tenant claims of domestic violence, sexual assault, human trafficking, or stalking with care and compliance. Under K.S.A. 58-25,137, tenants who are victims of these crimes—referred to as “protected persons”—are entitled to specific housing protections that landlords must follow. Below is a summary of what… Read more »

March 20, 2025 For landlords, learning that a tenant has filed for bankruptcy can be unsettling. It raises critical questions about rent collection, eviction rights, and the future of the lease agreement. However, failing to handle the situation quickly and properly can expose you to legal risks, fines, or even lawsuits for violating the automatic… Read more »

March 4, 2025 On March 2, 2025, the U.S. Treasury Department announced a significant policy shift regarding the Corporate Transparency Act (CTA). The department will suspend enforcement of penalties and fines associated with the beneficial ownership information (BOI) reporting requirements for U.S. citizens and domestic reporting companies. This move aims to alleviate regulatory burdens on… Read more »

March 3, 2025 On February 28, 2025, the Federal Housing Finance Agency (FHFA) announced a three‑month pause on its directive that would have imposed new federally mandated landlord-tenant requirements on covered multifamily properties financed through Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac. The pause delays implementation until at least May 31, 2025—a decision hailed by many in… Read more »

February 24, 2025 Kansas City Ordinance 241074—adopted on January 16, 2025—is often described as a “second chance” law. It amends sections of Chapter 2 (Administration) and Chapter 38 (Civil Rights) of the city’s Code of Ordinances to include persons with criminal histories as a protected class. This means that, in addition to protections based on… Read more »

February 23, 2025 Introduction On February 17, 2025, the Kansas House Committee on Federal and State Affairs convened to debate House Bill 2378 – a proposed measure designed to streamline the process for removing unauthorized occupants, or squatters, from residential properties. Dubbed the “Removal of Squatters Act”, this bill aims to empower property owners while… Read more »

February 22, 2025 The legal battle over Kansas City’s mandatory Section 8 acceptance ordinance continues, with Jones & Vogel v. City of Kansas City, Missouri (Case No. 4:24-cv-00649-RK) now moving forward to the next phase of litigation. After securing a preliminary injunction on February 11, 2025, plaintiffs Kennedy F. Jones and Stephen J. Vogel have… Read more »

February 20, 2025 On February 18, 2025, the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Texas reinstated the Beneficial Ownership Information (BOI) reporting requirements under the Corporate Transparency Act (CTA) following its decision in Smith, et al. v. U.S. Department of the Treasury, et al., Case No. 6:24-cv-00336 (E.D. Tex.). This decision lifts the… Read more »

February 13, 2025 A federal court has blocked Kansas City, Missouri, from enforcing a controversial ordinancerequiring landlords to accept Section 8 housing vouchers as part of their rental qualificationprocess. In the case Jones & Vogel v. City of Kansas City, Missouri (Case No. 4:24-cv-00649-RK), Judge Roseann A. Ketchmark granted the preliminary injunction on February 11,… Read more »

February 11, 2025 If you need to move a tenant out of your property in Missouri without going through a formaleviction, there are several legal and strategic approaches you can take. Your options will dependon whether the tenant has a lease or is renting on a month-to-month basis.Options to Remove a Tenant Without an Eviction… Read more »

February 10, 2025 The U.S. Congress is currently deliberating a bill that seeks to eliminate a lingering provisionfrom the 2020 Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act. The Respect StateHousing Laws Act, introduced by Rep. Barry Loudermilk (R-GA), aims to repeal the federalrequirement mandating landlords to provide tenants with a 30-day notice before initiatingeviction… Read more »

February 3, 2025 MISSOURI HOUSING VOUCHER BILLS: LEGISLATIVE UPDATE Missouri lawmakers are currently considering three bills that would prohibit local governments from requiring private landlords to accept Section 8 housing vouchers. These bills respond to the Kansas City, Missouri, Source of Income Law passed in 2024. House Bills 343 & 595 House Bills 343 (sponsored… Read more »