California landlords, you suck! ;-)

[Michaela G.]

OK, so, I've got that off my chest.

Here are my gripes, from a tenant's perspective:

All of my rental properties are in Georgia, where I don't want to live. So, whenever I end up in California, I rent. My problem is that I don't fit into this neat little box: I am self-employed (plenty of income, but not a regular paycheck), I have a dog, Don't have a lot of landlord references, because I've lived in my own houses for most of the past 25 years.

So, what irks me the most is that landlords or property manager think that the way to deal with those not fitting what they're looking for is : just ignore them. Don't have the courtesy to respond to any inquiries, don't tell them that they chose another applicant over them, just ignore them long enough until they get the picture and go away.

While nobody likes to give bad news, it's really unprofessional, in my opinion, to not respond at all and just let the person hang.

How long should a potential tenant hang on, if they've inquired about their 'perfect place'? Should they automatically try to find 10 places and apply with all of them, hoping that one sticks? I know that landlords don't like that either, if they've finally chosen 1 person and they're no longer interested, because they've found something else. But by not responding, you're forcing tenants into exactly that behavior.

I think it's one of those things that comes with being a landlord, like it or not: Telling people in a timely manner, that the vacancy is already filled, that they've chosen someone else, that they don't fit the profile of the tenant they're looking for.

I've noticed that over and over in SF and now in LA, where I'm moving. The only way in the past that I've found rentals is by placing my own ads, which I've done now. And the other day I received the offer of the 1000sqf 3rd floor of a mansion. And would I have a problem if the other people are in the adult industry? Am I 420 friendly? Well, do I swing? Not interested? Oh, well.......

[Karen Margrave]

Where in California are you? Depending on the area, landlords can get hundreds of people for their property, and calling all of them back would be difficult. However; they could say, we will be making a decision on X date, and if you don't hear from us then, assume it's rented, and thank you for your interest.

You also might want to take a copy of filled in rental application, your credit report, and reference letter with you; and try to make the deal on the spot.

As for people having fear of speaking, that's just crazy (oh saying that I could be sued for hate speech against people that might possibly read this and have mental illness- and yes I know mental illness is a very serious disease and have great compassion for those that have it) Please people, don't give into that type of fear.