With cryptocurrency and Web 3 becoming more mainstream, it’s no surprise that some property owners are now adopting it as a means of payment. But is it a good option to allow crypto for rental payments? While accepting Bitcoin as a rental payment reduces your transaction fees and offers both parties more flexibility, it also has drawbacks. Cryptocurrency is more volatile and a lot less mainstream than other forms of payment, which begs the question of whether it’s even worth the trouble. This article addresses these concerns by diving into what you should consider and how to secure your transactions. Stick around:
3 Things to Consider When Evaluating Crypto for Rental Payments
Volatility and Price Fluctuations
On one hand, adopting crypto as a payment method offers tenants more flexibility and convenience, but its volatility can make transactions more complicated. Due to its volatile nature, the value of a coin can vary wildly within days or even hours, making it somewhat unreliable. Imagine accepting $1000 worth of Bitcoin as rent, only for its value to dip to $750 the very next day. From an accounting perspective, such price fluctuations can affect your rental business, especially since you still have to pay your taxes, utilities, and loan repayments with a more stable form of money. Thus, relying on more traditional options would be best to avoid messing up your books.
Possible Tax Implications
It’s critical to know the ins and outs of your jurisdiction’s tax laws regarding cryptocurrency. While some states mostly ignore Bitcoin and all other forms of decentralized money, other states implement special taxes on businesses that trade with it. As a result, you must know the possible tax implications you could incur by adding cryptocurrency as a form of rental payment. You can streamline tasks by working with a Northern Virginia property manager to attract tech-savvy tenants without encountering any surprises when it’s time to file your taxes.
Limited Adoption and Technical Barriers
Another point you should consider when evaluating crypto for rental payments is that it is still not a mainstream option. Not everyone is eager to switch to decentralized banking, and there’s a possibility that most of your tenants will prefer to stick with what they’re already familiar with. Besides, navigating wallets, exchanges, and fees can complicate the process further and turn more people away rather than towards it. On the other hand, it could also be a great selling point for your rental listings to attract more tech-savvy renters.
How Can Landlords Ensure Secure Transactions when Accepting Crypto Payments?
1. Educate Yourself
Adapting your rental to the impact of technology trends can be a good way to modernize managing rental income. However, that doesn’t mean you should jump head-first into something you don’t understand. Before deciding to incorporate crypto payments in your rental transactions, you have to perform your due diligence. After all, the more you know, the less likely you are to make a costly mistake. So, get as much information as you can on the types of cryptocurrencies and the utility they offer. While decentralized coins aren’t as stable as fiat money, understanding the functionality of a coin can reduce your chances of losing money due to volatility or tax implications.
2. Choose a Reliable Platform
Keep security threats to a minimum by choosing a reliable platform for your trade. While crypto payments offer more security than regular cash, hackers can still get into individual wallets, compromising the safety of your funds. As a result, it would be best to opt for reputable cryptocurrency payment platforms that have more thorough security. Look out for features that can safeguard your coins such as two-factor authentication, encryption, and cold storage. These options make it harder for hackers to access your money, adding an extra layer of safety to your transactions.
3. Incorporate Crypto Payments in Your Rental Agreement
Establish clear terms of crypto payments in your rental agreement to avoid future disputes. After performing a sufficient investigation on what currency and payment platform to use, you should consider contacting a real estate lawyer to tidy up the fine details. Amending your lease to include the provision of paying rent with Bitcoin allows tenants to meet your terms in a way that benefits both parties in the long run. After all, crypto transactions are extremely hard to reverse and the last thing you want is to deal with a mistake that could’ve been easily avoided with prior communication.
4. Stay Updated on Regulations
Stay informed about the latest cryptocurrency regulations. Cryptocurrency and how people use it are constantly involved, so you need to always update yourself on the latest trends. Government policies and new developments in blockchain technology can affect how people trade and even necessitate a change to your rental agreements. Thus, when you’re developing changes, you can make better decisions to secure your investment and keep your rental payments flowing.
5. Request Proof of Cash Funds
Get a backup plan by ensuring new tenants can meet their rental payments without crypto. If you’re skeptical of incorporating Bitcoin as a payment plan and would like the assurance of fiat money, you can ask potential renters to provide a proof of funds document. This document could be in the form of a letter from a guarantor or a recent bank statement showing that the tenant can still meet their rent if they can no longer pay in crypto. Ideally, you should be privy to this information after a thorough tenant screening because income and employment histories are great tools to perform this assessment.
6. Use an Escrow Service
Employ the use of a reputable escrow service to facilitate the transaction between you and your tenant. This option is a great tip for landlords who might be low on trust and would prefer an extra layer of protection against fraud or disputes. While including a third party might defeat the essence of a cryptocurrency transaction, it is the best choice for property owners who aren’t as familiar with trading platforms. These services allow you to adopt more modern rental payment options without the risk of losing your funds to scammers.
Conclusion
Is it a good option to allow crypto for rental payments? Both sides have solid points for and against the adoption of cryptocurrency in real estate. However, as a savvy landlord, it would be best to evaluate your options before jumping to accept Bitcoin as a mode of payment. Remember that crypto can be volatile and that tax implications vary from one state to the next. More so, there are still technical limitations to its mainstream adoption.
If you’re a landlord looking to incorporate cryptocurrency as a form of payment, secure your transactions by educating yourself, choosing a reliable platform, and staying updated on the latest regulations. You can also safeguard your dealings by utilizing an escrow service, incorporating well-thought guidelines in your rental agreement, and requesting a proof of fund document.
