All Forum Posts by: Gail K.

If evictions are difficult or there is a long waiting period to complete these in Chicago.....and the discussion with this tenant involves his request to continue to remain in the rental unit for more time to find a place one option is to agree to allow him to remain with a $500 increase (at least) in the rent.  The increase may be the impetus he needs to move.

How nice of these tenants to save you the trouble of hauling out appliances, etc. that are probably 16 years old!

Don't thank them or they might consider charging you for hauling these things out with them.

If they keep complaining and they have been good tenants consider lending them a window air conditioner to place in the bedroom.

If they keep complaining and have been lousy tenants offer to let them out of the lease, repair the HVAC unit when parts are available and rent again at a higher rate.

Many years ago I had a young military couple request that I show them I am the owner of the property.  Seems they moved into my area from across the country and prior to this had been in communication with what they thought was the landlord of the property.  Turns out it was a former tenant from a landlord who did not change the locks after this person moved out so he still had keys to the place.  He began advertising it at the owner and collected deposits from at least three different people.  This young couple only learned of this when they pulled up to the rental in a U-Haul with all their belongings and met the current tenants (the original owner finally caught on, changed the locks and had rented out the place).

This couple was not asking me for my drivers license but was asking me for proof that I owned the place.

These type of scams happen on a daily basis.  Sometimes I go on FB Marketplace and report ads where the "owners" reside in places like Zambia.

Make certain your local Housing Authority will actually pay market rate. In my county this does not happen. FMR's for a 4 bedroom are upwards of $1400 a month. Our local Housing Authority caps vouchers at $900 a month; there are 2 bedroom rentals going higher than that. It is often difficult for a tenant on that program to find rental property and if they do it is often not in the best area.

The standard 18 Cubic foot Frigidaire, etc. refrigerator is what you will often see in a 2-3 bedroom rental unit.  Large properties will often provide larger refrigerators with the idea that more tenants may be residing there.  

Many landlords will provide both a refrigerator and some type of range but may draw the line on appliances such as a washer and dryer.  Some will include in the lease that these appliances are for the benefit/comfort of the tenant and while repairs will be addressed as needed, there will be no reimbursement for lost food should a refrigerator stop working. 

I've had some luck but only because I kept a record of where the tenant banks and their account/routing number (which is available on every check) and my state allows bank garnishment.

There is one landlord who reports filing against every tenant who leaves owing funds.  It's a policy of his.  He reports that down the line he frequently gets reimbursed (it may take several years so he continues to monitor when he must renew a judgment) when a former tenant wishes to make a big item purchase such as a house.

This is true.  Facebook can be quite eye opening.  There have been many folks who have expressed interest in my rental properties that have screened themselves out after checking their FB accounts (i.e., folks who say they have no pets but post pictures of pitbulls chained up in the back yard and comments that puppies are available for only $600 a pup and, sadly, women who post pictures of themselves that appear to imply they charge by the hour).

Avoid an applicant who is already complaining about being sensitive to mold.

It is always helpful to let a new tenant know how/where to contact the utility companies to get these things turned on in their name prior to move in.  Some of these can be done online but our local water company requires that a new tenant (or owner) show up at one of their two locations with a copy of the lease/closing statement, social security number and picture ID.

Because the gas company that services my area will often require a walk through to check the safety of appliances/hot water heaters requiring gas I'll often offer to meet the rep at the property prior to the tenant moving in (as long as the tenant sets the service up in their name).  That way hot water, heat, etc. are available at move in.  I once had a new tenant complain that there was no hot water for showers, etc..  I drove over to the house, walked in the backyard and pointed out the locked gas meter to them.  They had forgotten to set this up and expected me to pull out some miracle.  I explained I could not. I did feel I had done my part by not only discussing who to contact to set these things up but offering to be available for the gas turn on.

Like many things right now utility companies seem to be short handed and it can take several days for these utilities to be turned on.