Leases through 3rd party housing locators?

[Pete Woelfel]

Hi Everyone,

I have a SFR that will be turning over next month so I posted in a few places online. I was contacted by a company that works with insurance companies to find temporary housing for people with homeowner/renters policies who have been displaced by fires/natural disasters/etc. They are only willing to sign a 6 mo lease, then go month/month with a 30 day termination notice for landlord or tenant. They said they're willing to pay a "premium" (sounds like 20%-ish increase) in rent, we can use our own lease (so long as its for 6 months), put the new tenants through our existing background check process, etc. The tenant's name will be on the lease and they'll be responsible for a security deposit, but there will be an agreement with the temporary housing company that makes them financially responsible for the rent.

Has anyone out there ever had experience with companies like this? As long as the tenants pass the background check and we can use our existing lease, am I missing any potential pitfalls?

I'm in Wisconsin where its cold and in my experience there are more tenants willing to move in summer than winter, and a 6 mo lease would move my turnover cycle from January to June which might be preferable also.

Really appreciate any thoughts the community might have on this!

• 1

[Adam Gollatz]

It was the same company. I believe the girl called from a Massachusetts number.

Funny story, I actually got a call the next day after I spoke with the rep and said I would consider it. The perspective tenant called like 4 times in an hour and left 2 voicemails, so I was a bit turned off at the persistence. I called her back later than day, and she was going to come by in 30 minutes. 10 minutes later she called back to say her husband fell and she had to go to the hospital and she couldnt meet until the the next day, and right before she hung up she asked how many bathrooms it had, which I thought was strange to ask as your husband was in the hospital. Next day she canceled on me, said she found a place with 2 bathrooms. Typical landlord struggles. 

When I spoke with the rep, it seems like they look in the same zip codes as the tenant was in previously.  Not sure what it is for you, but for me is 53212, which can be realllly diverse since it runs from brewers hill and riverwest all the way up to harambe and the capital drive area. So keep that in mind. Could help you figure out what kind of tenant you are getting.