TAA's REDBOOK and "Apartment and Rental Housing Legal Seminars" provide critical legal updates

When you’ve got legal questions, we’ve got answers. The 2012-2013 TAA REDBOOK, REDBOOK Online and "Apartment and Rental Housing Legal Seminars" can save you time, money and headaches by providing resources and guidance for your common management problems.

TAA’s REDBOOK is the only comprehensive guide for rental housing owners and managers in the state. The printed version of the REDBOOK, available in early February from your local association, includes 840 pages of state statutes, regulatory agency rules, legal commentary, sample management and eviction suit forms, previously unpublished legal articles and copies of TAA leases and lease-related forms.

Content in the printed book is organized to help you find the information you need quickly and easily. And, to help keep the size of the book manageable, while still adding important new and revised content, TAA has relocated some articles and other content to the REDBOOK Online. As in the previous edition, the "Essential Charts & Resources" section includes diagrams outlining the steps in the lockout, landlord’s lien and eviction processes, as well as reference charts on submetering and allocation of various utilities, towing rules, locator referral fees and commission-sharing, and more.

REDBOOK seminars and webinars

Sharpen your knowledge of your legal rights and responsibilities as a rental housing owner or manager by participating in one of the REDBOOK seminars or webinars being offered around the state and online.

The in-person "Apartment and Rental Housing Legal Seminars" are once again being offered in two different formats: (1) a full-day intensive seminar covering legal, leasing and liability issues from the perspective of onsite apartment managers, assistant managers and leasing agents; or (2) an option to register for the full-day seminar or just an afternoon "update" (new information since the last REDBOOK). Local associations choose the format that best suits their members.

Seminars emphasize changes in management practices required by new laws passed during the last legislative session and updates on key regulatory issues that affect property management. The full-day seminars will:

• Uncover the hidden treasures in the new REDBOOK. Experienced attorneys will review basic leasing, eviction and other elemental aspects of managing rental property.
• Review what has changed in the new REDBOOK regarding guidance for the operation and maintenance of rental properties.
• Offer details about TAA leases and related forms, as instructors review the most often used and important forms. This section will also take a detailed look at changes in TAA’s 2011 leases and related forms and what they mean to you operationally.
• Provide an in-depth explanation of all federal and state statutory and regulatory changes since the last REDBOOK revision that affect rental property ownership and management. With ample opportunity for questions and answers, this discussion will provide details about what members need to know regarding law changes addressed in the new REDBOOK.
• Cover laws that experienced practitioners need to understand and discuss laws that you probably have never heard of but can cause you problems if you don’t know about them.
• Explore issues on the horizon that we may have to address as an association, including adverse local ordinances.

Afternoon-only seminars will focus on the last three items listed above.

Seminar participants can earn up to seven hours of MCE (Mandatory Continuing Education) credits from the Texas Real Estate Commission and up to seven hours of NAA continuing education credits. Some seminars sponsored exclusively by local associations may not offer all forms of continuing education credits.

"Apartment and Rental Housing Legal Webinars" feature the same content as the in-person programs, with the convenience of web-based delivery. Each webinar will include four individual sessions of no more than two hours in length. See page 6 for a list of webinar dates.

REDBOOK features

The 2012-2013 REDBOOK will feature:

• Nearly 100 detailed articles, including more than 50 new or revised articles
• 128 sample forms for use by owners and managers, with 4 new forms
• 10 revised TAA lease forms
• 32 new or added sections of statutes or rules, and
• 81 amended sections of statutes or rules.

For more information or to order your copy of the printed REDBOOK, contact your local apartment association.

Benefits of TAA’s REDBOOK Online

• 24/7 access from wherever you are
• Bonus content not included in the printed version, including: property tax and franchise tax statutes and articles; federal statutes and articles related to federal issues; condo laws and sample forms; an online Pool Guide section with swimming pool rules, articles and information previously in TAA’s printed pool guide; elevator rules; bonus legal articles; employment law articles; Spanish versions of TAA leases and addenda; legal briefs and more
• Powerful search capabilities, allowing you to customize your search and find the information you need when you need it
• Bookmark your most-used content in "Your Favorites" and customize to view as your REDBOOK Online homepage, for quick access
• Lease software integration, with direct links from TAA’s Forms for Windows^® and Forms Online programs as part of your annual site license fee
• Convenient access from your mobile device to a mobile-friendly version of the REDBOOK Online website

If you have questions about the REDBOOK Online, contact communications@taa.org or plan to participate in one of TAA’s free online webinar training sessions (see below for dates, bold indicates TAA sponsored seminar).