All Forum Posts by: Alan B.

I don't mind renting to her and being that she does seem desperate I do want to help her. Her voucher expires on the 16th & she just met with me on the 14th, its the holiday season and it's cold,  so if she is in a desperate spot I'll let her move in. I'm turning in her voucher packet tomorrow. 

Although the city inspector is OK with where the furnace is placed not really sure how Section 8 will feel. If they approve it I'll will let her move in but I'll have to stress to her not to make that room a bedroom.

And Mary you're right, my ideal tenant for this particular place was really a student or a senior.

The handles on the shower are too high for a small kid to reach which is a concern of mine, and how many kids really take showers? Also the place is technically two bedrooms. The second room has a closet that the furnace sits in. The city inspector said that I just cant list the house as 2 bedrooms due to this. So i didn't carpet that room and I list it as a storage room/office.

Being that the furnace is in that room I don't really want to rent to someone with a kid because I know they will just turn that room into a kids bedroom which they are not supposed to.

I told the potential tenant that it is not to be used as bedroom but i already know there is a chance it will be.

Also, being that the place is not really kid friendly I'm risking a bigger chance of a tenant with a child moving relatively soon once they are no longer in a desperate spot.

I just completed my 2nd door (the top half of my duplex), it’s a one bedroom, with a stand up shower (no bathtub), carpeting only in bedroom, and what I would define as a total bachelor pad. It’s not a place designed for a family, kids, or even a couple. Obviously I can’t list it like that due to discrimination laws, but I figured with it being a 1 bedroom and only a shower with no tub that someone with kids wouldn’t even apply.

I had someone come and take a look at it today, she has a Section 8 voucher for a one bedroom. I do accept vouchers, my lower unit is subsidized. I didn’t expect her to have a child, wouldn’t expect someone with a kid to apply for a 1 bedroom with no bathtub. When she mentioned her daughter I asked her was she ok with this only being a 1 bed and no tub. She said she was. I then asked her how many bedrooms her voucher was for. She said one.

Don’t see why Sec 8 would give someone with a child a 1 bed voucher, anyone ever heard of that? Ultimately, if the housing commission doesn’t mind her renting a 1 bedroom with a child then neither do I. I just find it strange she’s willing to rent this place, kind of seems like she is desperate.

Also, without breaking any laws how can I restrict the family size allowed in a rental? Example, a couple with 4 kids applying for a 2 bedroom. Obviously that 2 bed is sufficient and I don’t want them pilling all their kids into one room or have kids sleeping in the living room.

All advice and comments are appreciated.

In my 2 unit rental my lower level tenant wants me to allow her to have a washer & dryer. Originally my stance was no washer due to what I read in The Section 8 Bible. I noticed that in my market a “no washer” policy is not the norm for section 8 rentals.

The majority of landlords in my area allow washers and during my process of trying to get the unit rented my  “no washer” policy was an issue for a lot of potential tenants and I believe it will prove to be an issue into the future if I maintain it.

My tenant called me and really wants me to allow her to get a washer. She has two kids, no car, and does not want to drag them out in the cold to go do laundry. Due to it being a duplex with 1 water meter I as the landlord am responsible for the water and my biggest concern is water abuse.

Should I/would you allow the washer? Do you allow washers in situations where you pay the water bill? If I allow the washer how do I prevent possible abuse?

*Side note: The basement is not accessible to both units. It is only accessible to the lower level tenant.

Thanks in advance for all feedback,  this community has been very helpful to me as a rookie in this game.

I did take that part out. Just stuck it on her door an hour ago. Will let you know how things turn out.

Jared,  I like yours a lot better. Your version is perfect. I will be dropping it off at her door today. You said everything I was trying to say but in a better more professional tone. Thank you.

I don't have any experience with non-section 8. My target market is specifically section 8 rentals. I come from some rough neighborhoods in Detroit and providing quality section 8 housing is my way of giving back.

I work in banking so I usually hate the 1st of the month but when you become a section 8 landlord you tend to love them.

I would disagree with giving them an incentive. It sounds like you have a soft spot in your heart right now which I also had at first. The landlord business will toughen you up real quick. 

Respect your tenants and give them what is necessary, noting more nothing less. I too was thinking about doing rent discounts for on-time payments, gift cards, etc. You are already providing them with a place to live and they are paying practically nothing, that in itself is a gift.

If you haven't already, read The Section 8 Bible 1 & 2. The author sounds like an unreasonable jerk but after a little experience with section 8 I wish I had listened to the book from the start.

Soft hearts make for empty pockets. 

Update: my contractor took fault. He used a different brand of glue. 

He went by to fix up the tenants place yesterday (Saturday) and from what he tells me she was rude and would not let him in. She sends me a text to tell him to go way and come back on Tuesday because she needs to get some sleep for work that evening.

I instructed her to let him in so we can make the necessary repairs, she still decides not to so her place is not fixed. I will be dropping off a notice tomorrow for her that reads like this: (Please tell me what you think)

"I or anyone who is contracted by me has a legal right to enter the property if a health or safety emergency exist, or if a repair needs to take place in order to protect the unit and to keep it in a safe and habitable condition.

Reasonable notice will be given if possible, but in some cases notice cannot be given ahead of time. You refusing entry to my contractors cost time and money and prevents us from keeping your place maintained properly. It benefits you as a tenant to let us make necessary repairs and to not make my contractors jobs any more difficult.

Being uncooperative only hurts you. If you like I can contact the housing commission as well as your case worker to inform them that the property is no longer in a livable and safe condition and at the moment I am unable to make the necessary repairs. This will result in you having to vacate the residence and having to search for another place to live, or you can cooperate and allow us to do our jobs."

I'm a lender so I will give you some things to thing about and give you some insight on what I as a lender would think if you walked into my office.

Are you applying for secured or unsecured money? Depending on your institution they may not even go that high on unsecured money. Do you have any collateral to use such as boats, cars, bikes? Secured money will give you a better rate.

Most institutions don't want to see your debt ratio over 45% with the new loan. So if you do 50k unsecured at 48 months will your debt ratio still be within range with those new monthly payments?

Now as a lender, if you stepped in my office asking for 50k for a real estate investment and you have no established experience then I'm saying no. It's too risky for the institution. 

To get me to say yes your debt ratio needs to be very low, score needs to be preferably 740+, extremely good income, a history of being able to timely pay large loans, and some collateral. 

As a loan officer if I know this is for a home purchase (which I'm not lending that much without knowing what it's for anyway) then I'm not even going to entertain unsecured money. We are doing a mortgage because I want that home as collateral.