Landlord Resources
Tools, templates, and best practices for St. Louis landlords managing single-family rentals or small multifamily portfolios.
Good landlords build wealth. Bad ones lose it twice over.
The day you close on a rental, you become a small business operator. Tenant screening, lease structure, maintenance systems, accounting, taxes, and (rarely but expensively) the eviction process. These resources help you run that small business well.
Essential Tools
Landlord ROI Calculator
Comprehensive free rental analysis tool — cash flow, cash-on-cash return, cap rate, 30-year projections. Run scenarios before and after acquisition.
Open the calculator →Find Rental Properties
Multifamily for sale across the St. Louis metro — 2-4 unit and small income properties. Best entry point for new rental investors.
Browse multifamily →St. Louis Home Resources
Local contractors, plumbers, electricians, painters, HVAC, roofers, insurance, lenders — the network behind every successful landlord.
Find local pros →Census & Demographic Data
Income, demographic, and population data by zip code — useful for evaluating rent demand and tenant pool quality in target submarkets.
Look up census →Best-Practice Checklists
Tenant Screening (in order)
- Income: gross monthly income ≥ 3× rent.
- Credit score: minimum 600–650 for most St. Louis SFR rentals; 580+ acceptable with larger deposit or co-signer.
- Eviction history: pull court records for the past 5–7 years.
- Criminal background: comply with HUD's 2016 guidance — you cannot blanket-exclude all records; assess case-by-case for nature, time, and relevance.
- Rental history: contact the prior TWO landlords (not just the current one — current landlords sometimes give glowing references just to move a problem tenant out).
- Income verification: pay stubs, bank statements, or employer letter. Do not skip this step.
- Pet policy: spelled out clearly with deposits and rent adjustments.
Lease Must-Haves (Missouri)
- Names of all adult occupants on the lease.
- Specific term dates — month-to-month vs. fixed-term clearly stated.
- Rent amount, due date, late fee structure, NSF fee.
- Security deposit terms compliant with Missouri RSMo § 535.300 (max 2× monthly rent; itemized return within 30 days).
- Pet policy (if pets allowed): deposit, monthly pet rent, breed/weight restrictions.
- Maintenance responsibilities clearly split between landlord and tenant.
- Smoking, drug, illegal-activity clauses.
- Right of entry with proper notice.
- Default and remedies clause.
- Compliance with applicable city ordinances (St. Louis City, in particular, has a specific landlord-tenant ordinance).
Maintenance Reserves & Capex
- Maintenance: 8–10% of gross monthly rent — routine repairs, HVAC service, plumbing fixes.
- Capex: 5–10% of gross monthly rent — roof, HVAC replacement, water heater, major appliances, paint, flooring on turnover.
- Vacancy: 8–10% in most St. Louis submarkets — tighter in C-class areas, looser in A-class.
- Property management (if outsourced): 8–10% of collected rent + leasing fees.
Need to evaluate a rental property?
Run the full numbers on landlordcalc.com before you put it under contract.
Missouri landlord-tenant law — high-level orientation
Missouri is generally a landlord-friendly state, but several specific rules apply to single-family rental owners and small multifamily landlords:
- Security deposits (RSMo § 535.300): Maximum two months' rent. Must be returned within 30 days of lease end with itemized deductions.
- Eviction (RSMo § 535.020 et seq.): Non-payment requires demand for rent. Lease violation requires written notice. Court process — do not attempt self-help eviction.
- Right of entry: Missouri does not codify a specific notice period — 24-hour written notice is the customary standard and should be in the lease.
- City ordinances: St. Louis City has additional landlord-tenant requirements separate from state law. Verify with the City's Building Division.
- Fair Housing: Federal Fair Housing Act applies. Familial status, race, color, religion, national origin, sex, disability all protected. Be careful with advertising language and screening criteria.
None of the above is legal advice — consult a Missouri-licensed attorney for specific situations. This is orientation for landlords starting out.
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