All Forum Posts by: Mattie Covatch

1) Fence? No. Kids running through area is not your problem. He chose to live there without a fence. Tell him he can, at his own cost and risk, opt to have a fence installed if he wants to pay for it.

2) Bedroom door? Likely not required of you, but cheap. Install.

3) New windows? Unless you're paying electricity, no. Windows get cold in the winter. Check windows for damage. I would repair damage and inspect for quick fixes. If they're not damaged, older windows are older windows. Old windows and old houses are chilly by windows. That's life. Unless they're broken, drafty older windows are the norm. If you were planning new windows, great. But, that's a big request. Next, will it be "hey, my kitchen counters are old. Can I get granite? Oh, my air conditioning system is old and not working how I want it. Can I get a new one?"

Clean house if he's smoking inside means nothing. House will reek of smoke, and smoking causes damage. If he smokes outside, that's better-- but house will still smell.

I wonder if he's trying to test you to see what he can get and how firm you are.

Maybe the previous landlord left some unattended repairs, like a missing bedroom door or broken windows. Inspect the property and handle *repairs,* but not things like "I want new windows and fences." Repairs are fine, wanting a bunch of new stuff is asking too much. Otherwise, I say... handle cautiously and perhaps get a bedroom door, but keep a solid backbone. I wouldn't be surprised if he was testing the waters of his new landlord to see if you're firm or a pushover. Not that you should write off his concerns... inspect the place and do basic repairs.

Charles Perkins

Oh? What kinds of issues might not come up on credit check? Evictions, late rent payers, just damaging your property?

I think I'm better off without them. Nice or not, homeowner or not, my short application (all 5 lines of it) apparently scared them off.

This person ended up not getting me the completed app. All this, and they said they wanted to move in several days ago.. and I have no finished app or money in hand. I guess my app saying "money order or cash only for rent and deposit" and requiring them to fill out an app scared them away.

I don't get it. It goes from "I can move in today even" to saying they had people who could vouch for them... to stalling filling out application... to not completing application. The application is, what, 5 lines long? So simple.

I think I'm better off without them. Could've been a scam, or just very flaky.

Are the tenants required to use the maid service?

Some people prefer to clean their own places. I wonder if there's a risk of a maid taking/breaking something, and tenant trying to hold you liable. Or, tenant claiming made did something, took something, or whatever-- even if it didn't happen. Is there a risk here, and is it worth it to provide free cleaning?

Good credit history with no collections? I thought most tenants have collections of some sort, even if they're old collections? $680 rent is pretty cheap-- can't imagine tenants in that rental bracket having exceptional credit with 0 collection accounts.

Permission to contact employer and previous landlords is good, and to pull credit/background check.

Is 2nd month free rent necessary? Is it a bad area, pricey for the area, or something? Would 2nd month rent free confuse tenants? Wouldn't just leaving it vacant until January 1 be cheaper than filling it December 15, but offering 1 month free rent for January?

I'm unclear how you accept payments. It's ACH only? What if they prefer cash or money orders?

Those above 18 should be screened and on lease. But, shouldn't all persons living in property be listed somehow? If they have 8 kids and 2 adults, wouldn't there be max occupancy city/building rules or perhaps fire regulations? Or, can kids not be listed on leases? (I've never rented to someone with kids.)

Mark H.

I'm surprised you signed and moved in same day. That's a lot of trust for both parties-- that they're not psycho, and that your check was good doing same day.

I've rented out rooms to strangers without having met them before who were moving here for a job several times. The difference with the previous people was that they provided more than enough info, inquired a week or sometimes a month in advanced, had verifiable income and landlord references, and paid/signed lease in advance. One of them I video chatted with, the rest of us completed the process online. Hadn't even talked on the phone before they applied/signed lease and had great living experiences. They filled out app with no delay with verifiable info.

This new person is *local* (big difference, I think) and has no verifiable job (claims to be self-employed) and no landlord references (home owner). Same day local with no verifiable job/income or landlord references is what makes me suspicious. And, they seem to be stalling in filling out the app and/or wanting to rush me on this. Plus, they said "I have people who can vouch for me,... but I guess you need the app."

I'm guessing you gave the prospective roommate/landlord your work info or e-mailed from a work address? Talked to them in advance? At least had verifiable references to give them?

I've had good experiences with all prior roommates I've rented to so far. I screen well, and have a solid lease and house rules. Never had a problem, not even with people who moved in from out of state who I had never met (they had verifiable jobs/references).

What I assumed here about a same day move-in as that they were being evicted or trying to give me a bogus check. They're local. Locals don't usually show up and say "hey, I want to move in tonight." There's no job change, no relocation, no verifiable info. They are local, wanting same day move-in with no job and no landlord references available. And, they seem to be stalling filling in the app-- it doesn't ask for soc, just name, DOB, references, job info. I wish I could find someone relocating for an easily verifiable job, especially if they traveled often.

Ibrahim S

I did pull property tax records to make sure the name matched up with theirs. Their property tax bills are forwarded to their business address. I didn't ask for a photo ID to see if the name matched the face. They had facebook and social media accounts with their full name and photo. Age they appeared in person matched up with the age of the homeowner per public records.

I searched local court and criminal records. They were clean. Not even a traffic or speeding ticket. I didn't do a full national BG check. They appear to have only lived in my state, from what they said and pubic records show.

I haven't asked for bank statements yet-- I'll have to do that and use the online tenant screening service.

Tim Czarkowski

Ack. I hadn't even thought about "what if their house is being foreclosed on."

I'll get an online rental history/credit check for sure now.

Online listings showed they were trying to rent out their house a few months ago for a few grand a month. I would hope they're not in a foreclosure setting with their tenants. Yikes.

The "living with significant other" story could be a cover for something (eviction, foreclosure, no one rented their house, or having a roommate now who wants them out). Hopefully an online tenant screening service will tell me what their deal is.

I probably am too optimistic about their situation just because they "own" a $225K house (with a mortgage). They could be in huge debt for all I know.

Steve Babiak

Self-employed with office space, yes. No pay stubs to verify. Should I get W2s?

William R.

I should call the current boyfriend and current boyfriend's landlord?

This person's house was in rental listings and in MLS for sale listings a few months ago, just like this person told me it was.

This person told me they wanted to move in same day, or at least this week. I sent app for sure earlier today, and I still don't have the completed app in hand. Just the info they told me verbally, and public records I searched. When they first came to see it I didn't have an app with me, but thought I sent them one right after. They said "I have people who can vouch for me, but I guess you want that app"- - or something to that effect-- the first time I met them. They said they wanted it, the location and price were perfect, and they could start moving stuff in the same day.

Something tells me they don't want to fill out that rental application for some reason. That, or they haven't 100% decided yet. They were a little late when coming to see the place. Actually, they were supposed to come the day before, but didn't-- instead calling and saying they lost track of time and asked if they could come the next day. I had said I was looking for a roommate for the 15th. Maybe they're trying to back me into a corner thinking I "have" to rent it by the 15th?

Mark H.
Ha, roommates indeed aren't the most stable of people. I think I'll get a credit/eviction check online. That's quick and would lessen my worries a bit.

I don't think it's unheard of for roommates to want to move quick if they're moving out of a boyfriends, but same day is VERY quick. If I accept rent/deposit in cash or money order only, I wonder how much of a risk I would be taking.

I want to get someone here fast, and don't want to wait until December to see if I can find anyone. But, I also don't want to screw myself with someone who will likely need eviction or has red flags all over them.

Jon Klaus

Good point. I should make sure I stay in control of this. I'll slow it down and not allow a move-in until I get their fully completed app and process it as normal. I've verified what I can so far. Still wish there were recent landlord references from them. I'll accept only cash or money order since it's a quick move in within a few days.

And, I think this is a situation where I should cough up the $25 or so for a credit check or online tenant screening fee. Usually I don't run credit or use a tenant screening service.

I mention them owning a house because they can't 100% disappear if they damage my house. I'll still have a way to find them or try to get a judgement for damages or rent because of their home ownership. They own house, I send court docs to sue them for damages to that address or their self-employed business address. Being able to find them seems like a perk to me. If they owned nothing, they could walk and I have no 'forwarding address' or much recourse.

Volatile relationships... yikes.