All Forum Posts by: Jennifer Rysdam

I've got the following documents ready:

~Lease

~Pet addendum

~Lead paint disclosure and brochure

~Crime free/drug free addendum

~Security deposit agreement/receipt

~Move in/Move out inspection report

~"Why get renter's insurance" brochure

I'll get a copy of their driver's licenses and a certified check for first month's rent and deposit.

What am I missing? Feel like I'm missing something. :)

Thanks @Corina Eufinger I appreciate the advice. I was wondering about that. My lease is quite long, and most of it only applies to certain people in certain circumstances.
I'll check my forms right now and make sure they are all able to be signed.

Jen

Hi everyone. I finally have my first new tenant. Provided the background checks come out well, I'll be signing paperwork with them in a couple of days. Any advice?

@Michael Noto I already looked at the woman's MN rap sheet online. She had a 91 in a 70 last November, 2 months after moving to the state, with her 5 year old not in a car seat. This gave her a fine which says it's in collections. That alone will get her denied. I was just asking because the question came up and it's just something that would be good to know.
I wouldn't even have questioned it but when I got home from showing her the apartment I had mentioned to hubby that she had 3 kids. He asked the ages and then the last name once he realized one was in high school. He just shook his head and said that her son was one of the worst kids he has to deal with at school. 

I already have an 11 year old at the building that called my 13 year old son a f@cker for no reason when we were there mowing and cleaning one day. I heard him yell across the building and call another boy a c@nt one day. He eats bananas and oranges and throws the peels all over the grounds and common areas. I've talked to the parents and all they say is they don't know what to do with him, but they are just as bad. They have screaming/cussing fights with each other that everyone else can hear. I certainly don't want another one of those kids/families. We did foster care for 6 years and had some pretty difficult kids. There isn't much you can do to correct the behavior of kids who just don't care about anything. I just don't want to go there right now with another one, especially when it would be a year lease. At lease with the 11 year old's family they are on a month to month now so I can do something about it.

Thanks :)

Thanks for all the great answers. I have other reasons I can deny this one for, but wanted the info for future reference. As much info as you can get on the parents, you can't always get much on the kids, and there isn't much literature/law that talks about this issue. I'm thankful I have a hubby that is familiar with some of the kids. He's a great teacher/coach that has a great relationships with his students, so if he has something bad to report about one of them I can rest assured that it's a major issue.

@John Thedford I think you misread my post. I didn't say anything about denying because she HAS children. I have 6 of my own kids. I'm denying based on my husband's experience with this teenager. I love kids, but do not want a child in my building that has no respect for rules or authority. In this situation I know that she won't qualify based on her own information, but am just asking for future reference. 

I own an 8-plex in MN. I had someone apply and when I told hubby (who is a high school social studies teacher) that she had 3 kids he asked how old and what is the last name. Apparently her oldest is one of my husband's students and is a very belligerent and disrespectful jerk who is always in trouble. Not sure I want him in my building. I'm not even sure she'll qualify because of income, but can I deny based on that? 

Thanks,

Jennifer

@Deanna McCormick Thanks so much for this. Do you have a sample of the letter that you send them that lists the charges incurred and what their refund is?

Thanks again!

I've looked on the forms here and online but can't find one I like. Does anyone have a good sample letter that lists the deposit, the fees deducted, etc. that I can download?

Thanks!

Thanks for the information. The lease states that they are required to provide a receipt for a professional cleaning on the carpet, which never happens. It also states that they are to leave the apartment in the condition they found it, minus reasonable wear and tear. When I got her move out date I sent her the move-out instructions that listed everything that needed to be done and my rate of $25 per hour to do it for her, but she didn't follow it. She didn't schedule an inspection with me and didn't even leave a forwarding address. She actually didn't even leave the key and left drawers and cabinets in the kitchen full of stuff. I had to text her to come back the next day and get her stuff and leave the keys. She took some of it and left the keys. I had left the stove and fridge pulled out so she could see the mess under them when she was there doing that, but she obviously didn't decide to clean it up while she was there. 

It's amazing how much mess a single woman, who dresses to the nines outside of her apartment, can make. Everything she owned was either on the floor, her bed, or the counters. Looked like a bomb had gone off in there, and she knew we were coming to inspect. She even had dirty underwear on the floor! I won't even get started on the cat hair and smell! I'm glad I ended her lease.

Thanks again :)