How can one run a credit check, or at least find out that they paid the rent on time?
Hire a credit agency. This was common when I lived in Hawaii. Some rental companies would even make prospective tenants pay the fee for the credit check regardless of whether they got the apartment or not!
Some of the places I’ve rented from have made me pay for my own credit check.
However, a credit report won’t list wheather or not they paid the rent on time. For that, you need to call the previous (or current) landlord.
They only thing the credit check was used for was to make sure that after all my bills are paid (based on minimum payments) I would still have enough left over to pay the rent. And they don’t even do that until they verify my employment and see some paystubs to make sure that the rent payment will be 30% or less of what I make in a month.
Ask them for their current address, so you can notify them when the apartment’s available.
Then look up this address (probably another rental unit) in your county property records and find out the landlord who owns it. Then call them, and ask about this tenant’s payment record. (If that landlord says “they’re moving? They haven’t given me any notice.”, cross them off your list – they aren’t the kind of tenants you want.)
I’m a landlord and I can tell you that you’re unlikely to get an honest answer from another landlord, or property management co., especially a negative one. If I want to get rid of a tenant, I’m going to tell you what you want to hear, not torpedo the guy so he remains my problem.
What’s your method of finding a good tenant?
Agreed. For an honest opinion speak to a previous landlord, not the current one.
Hey - t-bonham – what do you mean, they aren’t the kind of tenants you want? Who gives notice to their current landlord before their potential new landlord has even told them they can move in??
:dubious:
The kind of tenant you want lets you know they are looking for a new place and don’t intent to renew their lease as far ahead of time as possible - months, even - so you can begin to place ads, plan repairs, find a couple of student painters, etc.
Uh, I’ve never done that. If my lease is up, and I give the required notice in the lease (last place was a month), why should I tell them way before that time that I’m shopping around? What if I opt not to move? What if I do not get the apartment that I’m applying for?
Maybe I’m jaded, since the last place starting showing the apartment at all hours (evenings, early mornings on weekends) with no notice, despite state law, as soon as I gave notice. But, I only gave notice once I signed the new lease… once I give notice, I had to leave. It’s like a job. You give notice after you get the new job, not before.
First you must know the landlord/tenant law in your jurisdiction and write your lease/rental contract accordingly. When you advertise, specify that employment and credit checks will be required, then follow through. This will discourage many from applying in the first place and if they’re afraid of these checks you don’t want them. Many employers are reluctant to give out info., so you should use the verify technique. Tell the employer you want to verify info. given to you by the perspective tenant. John Doe says he’s been w/ your co. for 4 years, is that correct? J. Doe states his salary is $4500.00 a month, can you verify that? Get the employers phone number from an independent source. don’t call some number that the applicant gives you. Credit checks will cost you money, find out how much and charge that, in cash only, as an application fee. Explain to the applicant that you will deduct it from the rent if it matches the info. they provided, but it’s non refundable if it doesn’t agree and they won’t get the rental. Meet the applicant and size them up, how they dress, what kind of car, is car well cared for?
If you think they’re possible tenants, give them a copy of the lease and time to read it over. Returning it a day or two later is best. If they want to argue too much, about atty’s fees, late charges, cleaning deposit, be suspicious. Asking a few questions is normal, but objecting too much implies that it may be an issue later. Beware of people who promise too much, I’d rather have someone who asks for a lower rent, or some other concession, than one who promises me the world. Make sure checks clear before allowing occupancy, once they’re in it’s expensive to get them out. Charge first and last + secuity/cleaning deposit.
Once they’re in, be nice to them. If they are rarely late w/ a payment, forgo the late charge. Be prompt about repairs. For example, I often give my tenants a turkey during the holidays, it’s cheap and it’s a nice gesture that they appreciate.
Oh, you don’t HAVE to do that at all. But most landlords will be very, very happy with you if you do. It’s an “above and beyond” sort of thing. I don’t know, I just figure, why NOT extend the courtesy? Unless there’s bad history between you and your landlord and you think he’ll start being a jerk if he knows you’re leaving, of course. And yeah, he was a jerk for unscheduled showings. Did you try just saying, “No, I’m sorry, this isn’t a good time. You’ll have to come back in 24 hours.”? I did have to do that a couple of times with one landlord, who finally realized that showing my messy place on demand was not as valuable to her as showing it when I had some notice to straighten up.
I have only okay credit and pay WAY more in rent than the normally allowable portion of my income, but it’s because I’ve always been great to my landlords, so they give me really excellent references in return - at least, according to my current landlord, the last two raved about me (despite some grr that built up at the last place due to multiple owners and unshared plans, on their end, to convert to condos), so he decided to take a chance on me.
I don’t have to put in gardens outside or vacuum the landing outside my front door, either. But it doesn’t bother me, and it helps him out, so why not?
My dad was a landlord for a few years while I was growing up, so I heard all the horror stories, and decided never to do that to anyone else if I could help it.
A.R. Cane’s tip about checking out their car is a good one. Most people care for their cars about like their apartments. And I say that as someone with a moderately messy car and moderately messy apartment.
Here’s a previous thread on this topic: http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=255009
Because I’m boned if I don’t get the apartment or decide to stay? Giving notice has repercussions.
IMHO, a lease is a contract. I’ve gotten nothing but contractual minimums from any of my landlords; why should I go “above and beyond” for them? They’re strangers! And the idea that you shouldn’t rent to people who don’t go above and beyond for the landlord is bizarre. Like I mentioned, I don’t give notice until I’ve gotten things lined up.
Yes, I did. And every time, they would whine until I’d cave (because it was a different person - not just one “landlord”, a property management company), swear up and down that it wouldn’t happen again, then it would happen the next day. It would be “Oh, this person drove for three hours to see this apartment, they’re only here today!” And, of course, this other person is right there giving me puppy dog eyes. Because their idea of “notice” was to call the moment they were leaving the property office a block away, so if I missed the call and was calling voice mail, they’d already be gone so I couldn’t decline.
Finally I had to contact them (in writing) that I would be refusing any more last minute visits, and pursuing legal action, if they didn’t leave stop. Then I heard through a friend that they were all badmouthing me in their little office about how unreasonable I was and what a terrible tenant I am… rolleyes Thank goodness I didn’t need their recommendation.
Heck, even with the (written) notice over a month ahead of time, they still attempted to strongarm me into leaving early, after paying for the rent through the month, so they could move the new tenant in! I basically had to insist that I didn’t have a place to go, and, my legal right was to live out the lease period.
I have had similar situations with pretty much every rental I’ve had. The landlord isn’t my buddy, they are providing housing for payment. I’ve never really worried about doing them “favors”. They sure never do any for me, but I guess I don’t ask for special privileges (dickering about rent, sliding back due dates). I just can’t imagine a landlord turning me down for following the terms of my contract but not doing special favors for a prior landlord – which was the suggestion in this thread.