https://tidylandlord.com/guides Free, plain-English guides for small landlords in the US and Canada: bookkeeping, taxes, security deposits and tenant screening. en Tue, 20 Oct 2026 12:00:00 +0000 https://tidylandlord.com/guides/form-1099-nec-for-landlords https://tidylandlord.com/guides/form-1099-nec-for-landlords When US landlords file Form 1099-NEC for contractors: the new $2,000 threshold for 2026 payments, what's exempt, W-9s, the Feb 1, 2027 deadline and IRIS, plus Quebec RL-31 slips. Tue, 20 Oct 2026 12:00:00 +0000 https://tidylandlord.com/guides/rental-property-depreciation-vs-cca https://tidylandlord.com/guides/rental-property-depreciation-vs-cca Rental depreciation in the US (27.5 years, mid-month, Form 4562) vs Canada (CCA Class 1 at 4%, half-year rule, no CCA rental losses), with IRS and CRA worked examples. Tue, 20 Oct 2026 12:00:00 +0000 https://tidylandlord.com/guides/how-to-split-utilities-with-tenants-rubs https://tidylandlord.com/guides/how-to-split-utilities-with-tenants-rubs How landlords split shared water, gas and electric bills between tenants with RUBS: occupants vs sq ft, common areas, move-in proration, a worked example and IRS/CRA tax rules. Tue, 20 Oct 2026 12:00:00 +0000 https://tidylandlord.com/guides/how-much-to-set-aside-for-rental-repairs-capex https://tidylandlord.com/guides/how-much-to-set-aside-for-rental-repairs-capex How much landlords should save for repairs and CapEx: the 1% and 50% rules as rough estimates, a per-component sinking fund, a duplex example and IRS/CRA repair vs improvement rules. Tue, 20 Oct 2026 12:00:00 +0000 https://tidylandlord.com/guides/how-to-set-rent-with-comps https://tidylandlord.com/guides/how-to-set-rent-with-comps How landlords set the right rent with comparable listings: finding comps, effective rent after concessions, adjusting for features, a worked example and rent-increase rules. Tue, 20 Oct 2026 12:00:00 +0000 https://tidylandlord.com/guides/rental-vacancy-and-turnover-costs https://tidylandlord.com/guides/rental-vacancy-and-turnover-costs How landlords work out the real cost of a vacancy: days vacant, lost rent, turnover costs, payback on a higher rent, your vacancy rate, the tax side and ways to cut empty days. Tue, 20 Oct 2026 12:00:00 +0000 https://tidylandlord.com/guides/how-to-budget-for-a-rental-property https://tidylandlord.com/guides/how-to-budget-for-a-rental-property How to build a yearly rental property budget: rent with vacancy, expenses by month, mortgage and capital items, NOI and cash flow, budget vs actual and next year's budget. Tue, 20 Oct 2026 12:00:00 +0000 https://tidylandlord.com/guides/rental-property-bookkeeping-schedule-e https://tidylandlord.com/guides/rental-property-bookkeeping-schedule-e A step-by-step bookkeeping system for US landlords: cash method, Schedule E line categories, repairs vs improvements, depreciation, records and tax-time checks, with IRS sources. Mon, 19 Oct 2026 12:00:00 +0000 https://tidylandlord.com/guides/how-to-fill-out-form-t776 https://tidylandlord.com/guides/how-to-fill-out-form-t776 How Canadian landlords fill out CRA Form T776: gross rents, expense lines 8521 to 9270, personal portion, co-owners, line 9369, CCA and where it goes on your return. Quebec TP-128 notes. Mon, 19 Oct 2026 12:00:00 +0000 https://tidylandlord.com/guides/rental-property-tax-deductions-checklist https://tidylandlord.com/guides/rental-property-tax-deductions-checklist Checklist of rental property expenses landlords commonly deduct, with the matching Schedule E line (US) or T776 line (Canada), plus what you can't deduct. IRS and CRA sources. Mon, 19 Oct 2026 12:00:00 +0000 https://tidylandlord.com/guides/how-to-track-security-deposits https://tidylandlord.com/guides/how-to-track-security-deposits What to record for every security deposit, how deposit rules differ (Quebec, Ontario, British Columbia, US states), how deposits are taxed, and a move-out workflow. Mon, 19 Oct 2026 12:00:00 +0000 https://tidylandlord.com/guides/tenant-screening-checklist https://tidylandlord.com/guides/tenant-screening-checklist A step-by-step tenant screening checklist: written criteria, fair housing and human rights rules, ID, income, references, credit checks, adverse action notices. US, Ontario and Quebec sources. Mon, 19 Oct 2026 12:00:00 +0000