A residential property manager acts as an agent for the property owner. A primary and fundamental responsibility in this role is managing the leasing process. This includes marketing the property to attract potential renters, screening applicants to find qualified tenants, and negotiating the terms of the lease agreement on behalf of the owner. The lease negotiation covers critical aspects such as the rental rate, lease duration, security deposit, and other specific clauses, all of which are central to the operational and financial success of the property.

A. Requesting wage garnishment is a legal action that requires a court order after a judgment is obtained; it is not a standard administrative task for a property manager.

B. Decisions on major structural changes are capital expenditures that fall under the owner's authority; the manager may recommend them but does not typically have the power to approve them.

C. Selecting tenants must be based on objective financial criteria and in strict compliance with Fair Housing laws, which prohibit discrimination. Actively selecting for "diversity" can constitute illegal steering or discrimination.

1. Massachusetts General Laws (M.G.L.) c. 112, § 87PP. This statute defines a "real estate broker," under whose license property management is conducted. The definition explicitly includes one who "for another and for a fee... negotiates... the lease of any real estate." This establishes lease negotiation as a legally defined brokerage activity and a core function of a property manager.

2. Kyle, R. C., & Baird, F. M. (2016). Property Management (10th ed.). OnCourse Learning. In Chapter 1, "The Professional Property Manager," the text outlines the primary responsibilities, stating, "The manager's first responsibility is to realize the maximum profit for the owner... This is accomplished by... effective marketing, and tenant selection and retention" (p. 12). The process of marketing and tenant selection inherently includes negotiating lease terms.

3. Jacobus, C. J. (2022). Real Estate Principles (13th ed.). OnCourse Learning. Chapter 19, "Property Management," describes the functions of a property manager as established by the management agreement. It specifies that a key function is "renting the property," which involves "establishing a rental schedule... and negotiating leases" (Section: The Management Agreement).