All Forum Posts by: Jennifer Rysdam

I have one unit in my building that is rented out by a large corporate pig farm in our area. They put veterinarians from Mexico in there. The only reason why I allow it is because they do a LOT of screening of them prior to even bringing them here to work. Otherwise, I have no way to doing criminal background checks on them like I do everyone else. So far the all have been wonderful. Rent is paid a month in advance, and they all have been wonderful.
My only other caution is how many workers are going to stay there? Make sure it's not too many that it tasks your utilities too much. I only allow 2 at a time because there are 2 bedrooms.

I wouldn't do it. The felonies alone are enough to deny her. I have a question though. Why are you to this point and only finding out about the felonies? Be sure that you are clear about your expectation prior to them paying for the background/credit check or you might find some upset people who want their money back. If you WERE up front about no felonies, 3X rent, etc., then she's also a liar for not telling you that on her application. 
In the end, I doubt she'd be there very long anyways, so why bother. Find someone who will stick around/stay out of jail.

I would say no. If she can pass all of your tests then she can get her own place. How are your other tenants going to deal with all of those people? You might lose them in the process.
If you do decide to go with it, be sure to have a lot of rules, including when they can use the shared laundry. That may become another issue with the neighbors.

Sounds like a scam. I might call the bank and have them make sure the funds weren't counterfeit! I find it hard to believe that someone who pays that much for rent wouldn't have more funds, a credit card, relatives, etc. that could help him out. Don't budge, but definitely ask him if he would like you to start looking for someone else to live there and you can refund whatever is left if they move in before the end of the month. At least that will let you know what his intentions are. People are so weird!

I use QuickBooks for my accounting. I send an invoice to everyone 1 week before the 1st. They have the choice of just clicking on the QuickBooks link and paying online, putting a check in the "rent" slot at the building, or depositing it right into my bank account.  I can have it set up to automatically send the invoices every month so I don't have to actually do it.

 Thanks for the tip about attending eviction court! I'm definitely going to do that one day. What better way to become comfortable with it!

Stick with your guns. You are showing them that the lease is the lease and you mean business. If you let them get away with it, they will do it again. You wouldn't ask them to pay your rent/mortgage. If they are short on money they need to talk to the bank, family, friends, parents, church, etc., not you. 
It's hard, I know that very well. I have gotten myself into some messes and wished I had followed my own policies. Lesson learned. You'll be glad you followed through.

I use SmartMove for my credit/background checks. The tenant pays the fee right on the website, I get the info, and then send a message of approve or deny right through the SmartMove website. 

Before running the credit/background checks I always check references, facebook pages, and the state criminal website: http://pa.courts.state.mn.us/default.aspx

I don't collect any application fee, they just pay as mentioned above. I have a website that tells them what my requirements are, and I also mention it to them on the phone or through email before they apply.

 I disagree. These tenants have not provided ANY proof that this is a service dog. What would the fair housing complaint be for? They already have the dog and are in violation of their lease if they are refusing to pay dog fees. If anything the landlord could get a fair housing complaint for making everyone else pay pet fees and not these people. They have to be fair.

You might also want to mention to them that your pet fee is less than an attorney if they start bringing it up.