A landlord or apartment association is an organization made up of individuals including landlords, property owners, and property investors who live in a certain town, city, or county. Whatever the name or locality, landlord and apartment associations are formed and maintained with a number of goals in mind, including:

• Providing updated information to landlord and property managers regarding such things as new and ongoing local eviction proceedings, developments in landlord-tenant and property law, vacancy rates, public housing issues, and properties for sale in the area;

• Creating an opportunity for landlords to organize their efforts to impact local and state landlord-tenant, property, and land-use legislation and regulations; and

• Giving landlords an opportunity to network with other local property owners on such topics as reputable contractors and vendors.

Getting Involved

Landlord or apartment associations usually hold regular meetings at local establishments or meeting facilities, and may take further communication steps including publication of newsletters and online resources. If you are a landlord, property owner, or property investor in a mid- to large-size city, you may have the opportunity to get involved in a landlord or apartment association. To find out more, talk to your fellow property owners, or contact your city or county housing department.

Another good place to start is the National Association of Independent Landlords. Many cities also have their own landlord and apartment associations, such as the Apartment Association of Greater Philadelphia and the San Francisco Apartment Association. Enter the name of your city and "landlord association" into a search engine to get an idea of what's out there.