(916) 596-1665
Serving Sacramento County Since 1998
(916) 596-1665Accidental Landlord Property Management
Property Management for Accidental Landlords in the Sacramento Region
Many owners become landlords without planning to, after inheriting a house, moving for work and keeping the old home, or renting a home that did not sell at the right price. Once a tenant moves in, the responsibilities of a California landlord apply whether you planned for them or not.
Alpha Property Management takes the day-to-day work off your plate: setting the rent, screening tenants, collecting rent, handling repairs, and preparing the lease and notices.
Inherited
You Inherited A Home
A parent's house came to you, maybe with a tenant already living in it. You may want the rental income, or time to decide what to do with the home, without managing the tenancy yourself.
Relocated
You Moved And Kept The House
A new job or a new home took you away, and the old house became a rental. You are not close enough to show it, fix it, or check on it.
Holding
You Rented Instead Of Selling
The market or the timing did not work for a sale. Renting the home can help cover the mortgage while you wait, as long as the rental is managed well.
Owner Responsibilities
What An Accidental Landlord Has To Handle
Owning a rental is a business with real responsibilities, and the ones below begin the day a tenant moves in.
Setting The Rent
A rent priced too high can leave the home vacant, and a rent priced too low costs you income every month of the lease. The right figure comes from current comparable rentals, not what the house rented for years ago.
Consistent Tenant Screening
You need a written standard applied the same way to every applicant. Alpha screens every applicant against the same written criteria.
Lease, Deposits, And Notices
Every tenancy needs a written lease, a security deposit, move-in photos, and the right notices at the right time.
Repairs And Upkeep
The home has to stay in good repair for the whole tenancy. When something breaks, such as a water heater on a weekend, the tenant will call you to arrange the repair.
Rent Collection And Records
You collect the rent, follow up on late payments, and keep records of income and expenses for tax time.
Insurance And The Mortgage
A homeowner policy written for an owner-occupied home may not fit a rental. Check with your insurance agent about a landlord policy, and read your loan terms on occupancy.
What Alpha Handles
What Alpha Handles for You
You keep ownership and the final say on routine repair spending, and Alpha handles the day-to-day management of the rental.
01
Rental Analysis
We review comparable rentals near your home and recommend a rent based on current market data.
02
Walkthrough And Onboarding
We tour the property, document its condition, flag repairs to make before it rents, and send you instructions to set up your owner portal.
03
Marketing And Screening
We take marketing photos, list your home on 20+ rental platforms, and complete a comprehensive screening of every applicant, verifying credit history, income and employment, rental history and references, and background information. Our typical placement timeline is approximately *10 days once your home is rent-ready. Timelines are estimates and cannot be guaranteed.
04
Lease And Renewals
We prepare the lease and handle deposits, notices, and renewals.
05
Rent And Statements
We collect rent and deposits. You receive a monthly statement and can view reports anytime in your secure owner portal.
06
Repairs And Maintenance
Tenants call our team for repairs, not you. Routine repairs over $250 wait for your approval, emergency work follows your management agreement, and our maintenance team runs a 24/7 emergency line.
Tenant Already In Place
Inherited A Tenant Along With The House?
We take over the tenancy where it stands. We collect the lease, the deposit records, and the payment history, confirm what the tenant owes and what you owe them, and move rent collection to your owner portal.
If that tenancy ends in an eviction later, Alpha handles it under your management agreement. See how eviction support works, or call Sally at (916) 596-1665 for personal assistance.
Pricing
Accidental Landlord Property Management Fees
Alpha charges a flat monthly management fee, billed occupied or vacant, and the fee does not rise when the rent does. Plans start at $99 a month, and a lease-up fee is billed separately when we place a new tenant.
If a tenant we've placed in a property under our full-service management contract breaks their lease within the first year, we will place the next tenant with no additional lease-up fee. Normal cleaning, repair and vacancy costs still apply. Full details on each fee are on our property management fees page.
Common Questions
Accidental Landlord FAQ
What is an accidental landlord?
An accidental landlord is an owner who rents out a home without setting out to become a landlord. Common examples include inheriting a house, moving and keeping the old home, or renting a home that did not sell at the right price.
I inherited a house with a tenant in it. What happens to the lease?
Alpha takes over the tenancy as it stands. If the estate is still in probate, talk to your attorney first, then call Sally at (916) 596-1665.
How do I get started with Alpha?
Call Sally at (916) 596-1665 or request a free rental analysis. We will recommend a rent and explain how Alpha would manage your home.
Will renting an inherited home change my property taxes?
Property tax on an inherited home is a question for your tax advisor or the county assessor. Talk to them before you rent the home.
How much does Alpha charge?
Alpha charges a flat monthly management fee, billed occupied or vacant, with a separate lease-up fee when we place a new tenant. See the full breakdown on our property management fees page.
I do not live near the property. Does that matter?
No. Tenants call Alpha for repairs, you approve costs before work begins over $250, and you can review income and expenses in your owner portal and monthly statement.
Can I rent it for a year while I decide whether to sell?
Yes. Alpha works on a straightforward 12-month management agreement, so tell us your plans up front and we will match the lease term to your timing.
Became A Landlord Without Meaning To?
Tell us how you came to own the home and what you would like from it, or call Sally at (916) 596-1665. We will recommend a rent and explain how Alpha would manage it. See everything in full-service management on our owner services page, or compare costs on our property management fees page.
(916) 596-1665 · sally@alphapropmanagement.com
Alpha Property Management, 2377 Gold Meadow Way #100, Gold River, CA 95670
