All Forum Posts by: Cindy Schneider

Thanks for all your advice, I told my renters last night that I did not want to allow them to get a pet. They are good renters so far, that's why I felt a little torn whether to let them have a pet or not, but all the issues that could happen from the animal could wreak havoc on what had been going good as is. 

Thanks for all your advice! I will stick with not pets and I'll have to research about ESA animals in case they come back with that. I put all new flooring in the upper level of their unit, its a bi-level duplex, and the bedrooms are in the basement, which has carpeting, as did my side, but I tore my carpet out due to years of dog urine never cleaned out of it, which soaked into the cement and even after enzyme cleaning and layers of scent sealing paint and then vinyl plank flooring, I can still smell it in the damp weather.

 Yes, that sounds like a good idea, if they leave I can raise the rent and stay with my policy. I only have 1 unit to find renters for and so far have not had an issue. I'm a first time landlord and all of this is still new to me, and I've done a lot of research, but I always run into unexpected things like this.

I was worried about that also, since I've had past applicants with ESA's even though I had no pets, so then I can't charge any fees for that. I'm not against animals by any means, I used to have several, but the rental industry is so different, renters don't care as much for the properties, my current property was one of them, and I spent alot of money to remodel. I've only been in this place for 3 years so far. 

Since I live on the other side, I am a bit less lenient with things like this. If I didn't live there, I may have considered allowing pets, but I would have done that up front when initially renting the units. I have no issues finding renters, in fact right now there is a housing shortage around my area. 

I have a duplex and I live in one side and rent the other. I have had renters in there for 10 months and they're asking if they can get a rescue dog. I have a no pet policy which was on the lease. I had remodeled their unit to repair pet damage from past renters, as well as I remodeled my unit for the same reasons, therefore I chose not to allow pets. I don't want to deal with more pet damage, and I live in a country subdivision with alot of families with small children so I wouldn't want the dog to be disruptive, plus I live in the house as well. Am I wrong to stick with my no pet policy or should I allow them to get one? My insurance will not cover bully breeds, which are the majority of the rescue dogs I've seen on the websites.

Hi, I'm a new landlord, I own a duplex, just reached year 2. I live in one side and so far have only had to look for renters one time, and I posted it on Facebook marketplace and it was a circus. So this time around I posted it on Apartments.com, which is great so far, but I'm having issues on some criteria as far as what I can deny an application for, per the list below:

Credit score is at least 650, which is what I asked but they have a large amount of debt in comparison to their income. Such as one person makes $38,000 per year but has $25,000 in debt but has no late payments. Rent is $800 so I'm assuming that also gets added to their debt ratio.

People have criminal records such as possession of drugs but in some case they are dismissed or dropped. One person had 2 counts of bail jumping and was in jail 3 months and then the case says dismissed after that, if I'm reading it correctly. Can you deny someone's application for a felony? Or a misdemeanor? Or does it depend on what it is?

One person is sending me screenshots of multiple apps that list money paid to her from 3 different jobs and claims to make $48,000 per year but the 4 months of pay she showed me add up to around $22,000. She has 708 credit score but $28,000 in debt.

What is the difference between trade lines and lines of credit?

Also, when I check the state local court records online I find more charges under a persons name that appears to be the same person but that didn't show up in their report with the application.

Is there a standard for how long a person needs to be at their current job?

I'm feeling overwhelmed and want to be sure I give everyone a fair chance and don't wrongly deny an application. It seems like everyone has some sort of issue and there's alot of single people applying that just make the requirements. 

Thanks,

Cindy

Joe Semifero  Thanks for the tips, I haven't heard of ApplyConnect yet, and I've researched many site for background checks and applications and this one looks like the best price for background and credit checks combined! They also are now offering to pay rent online. I just signed up for Cozy to allow my new tenants to pay online, so I haven't implemented it. As for application fees, most sites have the fees that the applicant can pay if they are one that is chosen through prescreening to be checked, but Wisconsin limits fees to no more than $20, so not sure if I can do the $28 fee, or if I just have to pay it for the finalists. 

I'm a new landlord in Wisconsin and just signed on my first new renter on Saturday morning, he signed a 1 years lease, paid one month rent and security deposit, which was one months rent. Then he texted this morning that he needs to back out of the lease because his job just told him he has to work out of state for 2 years. The lease was to start Sept. 1. What are my rights as far as charging him a fee or keeping his security deposit for backing out. I know he's on the hook for rent until I find a renter, which I have time to do so yet, so I'd have to send him a legal form stating that. I don't have an early termination clause. I have a paragraph regarding default of lease per below, which doesn't specifically state about early termination: 

DEFAULT: Should Tenant default under any of the terms and conditions of this Lease, Landlord shall have any and all remedies available to Landlord under this Lease, at law or in equity, including, without limitation, (1) the right to re-enter and repossess the Premises pursuant to applicable laws,
(2) the right to recover all present and future unpaid rent, damages, costs, and attorneys’ fees, and
(3) the right to recover all expenses of Landlord incurred in re-entering, re-renting, cleaning and
repairing the Premises. Interest will begin accruing at 18% per year on any amount due and owing
to Landlord from the time that any such amount first became due and payable. Tenant agrees to
pay Landlord’s reasonable attorneys’ fees and costs in connection with any default by Tenant and same will be charged to Tenant as additional rent and due immediately. If evicted, to the maximum extent permitted by law, Tenant shall be responsible for all rent due for the balance of the Lease term, even though Tenant may no longer be able to live in or use the Premises due to the eviction.
Landlord may proceed against Tenant either for eviction or for a money judgment, or both, either at one time or one remedy at a time, in any order.

Thanks for the replies. I've heard about people doing the emotional support animal scam, so not sure what types of animals they can have, would they include pitbulls and german shephards or would they be labs or retrievers? Also I didn't sign up for doing online applications and didn't put that in my ad, can I sign up for one now and let the people who are messaging me already that they can apply online? Would I have everyone apply online right off the bat or would I do an initial phone call first and then let them know they can pay to apply online for the next step. I was told that I do initial review, then showings, then they can apply