I am a Hood Landlord

[Ihe O.]

Not only that I rent to people that most people here would disqualify on grounds of credit history. In fact  I don't know the credit history of any of my tenants - never checked it.

Yes I check stuff, yes I have grounds for rejecting applicants, no the state of their credit isn't one of them, yes I know some people here will get apoplectic about that, no it doesn't make any sense to do that for the demographic that are going to apply for a rental in the hood.

So with that out of the way and it is relevant context, I am going to post about conversation had with one of my tenants last week.

Me: Hi it's starting to get warm and I noticed last year the house seemed rather hot in the summer are you alright for air conditioning.

Tenant: We ok Mr O, we got some air conditioners last year.

Me: Really, you bought portables.

Tenant: No we bought some had someone install them in the windows.

Me: You should have told me you needed that I would have got it for you.

Tenant: That's ok Mr O.

Me: Do you have the receipts so that I can reimburse you.

Tenant: You don't need to do that Mr O we are ok. 

[Linda S.]

@Ihe O.,

Thanks for posting this.   We met a lady at one of the houses we were looking at, and she was so grateful that the current landlord/seller for giving her a chance b/c she used to be homeless and is now working at becoming a teacher, she actually got a loan and paid for a new roof, and to have the bathroom floor fixed-- both stuff completely shocked me!!!  I told her she could take the landlord to court and get her money back, but she was so grateful that "she gave me a chance, I want to do right by her" ..... really wonderful lady,  they are out there!   

Thank you for bringing to light the good, because there is good out there!  If you treat people with respect and show you actually care about them, and their well being, they will reflect that back to you.   If you treat them like they are criminals and show them you are immediately thinking they are bad, they will have less respect for you and the property.         That being said, I think being a low income landlord requires a lot more street smarts, people and detective skills...     definitely not for everyone!