All Forum Posts by: Susan H.

My rental is within a mile of the university, and I previously had students apply with no income but statements that parents would pay. (This is common in this town.) I didn't have to address that issue then because the first applicants (an MD and a chef) qualified. Those tenants purchased a home and are moving out in late July. Based on what I've observed, most rentals this close to university are inhabited by multiple people, many of them students. I'll note my town has an ordinance that no more than 3 unrelated people can occupy a residence. 

My three questions:

1) Should I require each adult to complete an individual application, with that application including a section to list other adults who will be residing there?

2) And does each person pay for a credit/background check?

3) How do you handle it when tenants' parents intend to pay the rent but won't occupy the premises?

Many thanks for all comments and suggestions!

~Susan

The Associated Press has a story about a Salt Lake City apartment complex that's notified current tenants of a change in their leases. The change requires them to "friend" the apartments on Facebook. Note "The document also has a release that permits the property to post pictures of tenants and their visitors on its Facebook page." 

So, my questions: is there an ethical reason for such a rule? (Personally, I'm shuddering over the idea that photos of kids and other residents could be publicly posted.) 

Can landlords legally modify a currently-running lease? I thought we had to wait until the lease was renewed, or new tenants move in.

See http://abcnews.go.com/Weird/wireStory/likes-salt-lake-city-complexs-facebook-requirement-39467912

Welcome! I'm down the road a bit from you in the NWA area. You mentioned the KC area; do you by any chance have students as renters? 

Hi everyone,

I'm a writer and professor by trade with a single-residence rental that had been my own home for years after retiring from military service. My property is located a mile from a fast-growing university and an interstate with easy access to shopping, restaurants, etc.  I'm very fortunate to have had professionals rent the house (she's an MD, he's a chef) for the past three years and will be sorry to see them leave in late July. 

I did some things right with that first rental (scheduling an open house instead of individual appointments, for example, and screening applicants) but there's definitely room for improvement. I used a paper application that first time, collected personal checks for the credit check and ran that myself, and didn't have a process in place for applicants who were college students with parents willing to pay the rent. 

I'd love to hear from folks using online apps and having applicants pay for credit/criminal checks themselves. I'm sure there's much more to think about; fortunately I have a bit of time since my tenants kindly gave me plenty of notice!

~Susan