Well, I just started advertising for someone to share my house with me and have received a reply already. We’re planning on meeting tomorrow to talk about the room, etc. Problem is, I’m not sure what kind of questions I should be asking?
For the record, the first applicant is a 21 year old pharmacy student here in Australia from France.
Can you tell me from your experience what sort of things I should be on the lookout for?
Thanks
Michael
Be careful of penguins.
Money - Make sure they can pay…
They are going to be living with you, so find out the important things to you.
For example, I do no drugs. However, if there were a boarder coming on with me, I might act like I did and ask them that in a way to to find out if they did. Same with parties, etc.
For the most part, I’ve discovered that you get a “feel” from people when you just sit down and talk to them (no matter what the questions). I usually just trust this.
I would be clear that nobody else is going to be spending endless hours in the house. No overnight boyfreind girlfriend crap, because they tend to become perment no paying leechs. Large groups of friends are not to be spending hours everyday in the house. Be clear on the rent, and other bills for how and when they will be paid. Do not have a land line phone if you can help it, as roomies can rack up quit a bill with no intention of paying the bill, and leaving you without phone service and owing hundreds because it’s in your name. Any extras they can’t pay for that you put in your name should be canceled imediately the first time they don’t pay on time. You need to be a hardass on this stuff, because there are many moochers that don’t give a shit about the roommate., and will leave you in a bad situation holding the bag. I would at least spend bit of time talking casually to the person in a public situation, so you have some idea if they have an anoying personality traight you will want to kill them for in a month.
Put everything in writing and get it signed and notarized. Make sure money is spelled out,. Include a late fee if the rent is late (5% after five days is our standard), and state that any legal and court costs ae to be considered additional rent (ofherwise, you have to go to small claims court to collect it, instead of tenancy court). Also include a clause that “any illegal acitivity is grounds for immediate eviction.”
Go to your courthouse asap and ask for a landlord/tenant booklet.
Annie-Xmas, property management specialist
Agree on everything.
Get it all in writing.
Check references; personal and business.
You may want to do a criminal history check (which is cheap) if you’re the type that wigs on that sort of thing. There are some criminals I can live with; some I can’t.
Make a schedule for household duties and stick to it.
Put “move out” stipulations in your agreement. These are the things that you will absolutely not tolerate and are Big Deal Breakers. You need to let your boarder know how strongly you feel about certain things, if indeed you do.
The first big question to ask is WHY they are moving. There’s good reasons and bad reasons, but nobody ever gives a bad reason.
Don’t trust the phone numbers of their references. In these days of cell phones, anyone can pretend to be an ex-landlord. Look them up on a website, or go to the previous address and check to see they actually lived there, who the landlord really was, and what they really have to say.
Do not accept anyone who has a relative paying their rent. If your relatives are willing to pay to have you live elsewhere, it is a not a good sign.
If you feel “iffy” about someone, ask if they can pay two or three months up front on the back end of the lease. That way, if they leave early you are not out so much money And get the maximum allowed security (here it’s 1 1/2 months rent. Check you state’s laws.)
Find out how to evict someone and how long it takes. It can be up to six weeks, and you won’t be getting rent during that time.
Make rules about cleaning common areas and have enforcement clauses in the lease. What are you planning to do if your roommate leaves dirty plates in his room? The bugs won’t just stay in his room. What about overnight company? Does he party a lot? If you don’t smoke, does he?
Check and make sure he is a student where he says he is.
Make it clear if this is a boarding relationship (you are renting a room in my place) or a housemate relationship (we are sharing a house). Those are very different things with very different expectations.
Be sure to ask Are you Jack the Ripper?
This thread definitely has older persons posting. Lessons learned. Cynical but wisened older persons. 
In case this person doesn’t work out, I recommend putting your dealbreakers in your ad. In my case this was drugs and overnight guests. Yes, some of my good friends have done drugs and have overnight guests, but with a roommate/renter there is no escaping and no standard sense of proportion. This cut down on responses, but did result in two non-psychotic roommates.
Online criminal background checks.
Credit check, also online.
Specify in writing how the rent is to be paid. Cash or money order is best. If a check is bounced, demand future rent in cash or money order.
Don’t take any bullshit about the rent. It’s one thing if a tenant who has always paid on time comes to you on the first and explains they are having financial problems this month and will pay the rent and late fee in cash on the fifteeneth. But people who always pay late, don’t pay late fees, and give post dated checks (we put them in immediately) are not to be tolerated.
If a tenant doesn’t pay as agreed, put in for eviction immediately. It takes time to go through with an eviction, and you’re not getting your rent for it. If you do have to go to court, don’t take any stories about how they will pay the rent “next week.” Tell the judge it is pay today or move.
“So, Osama bin Laden… pretty cool guy, you think? Role model?”
I just want to chime in and say that really depends. My parents are currently paying my rent because I am not in a position to be earning money at the moment (because of my visa status as an international student) and they didn’t want me to turn down an opportunity to get an education because of financial issues (and getting student loans is ridiculously difficult for international students). I’m sure my case is a rare one but just wanted to say that there are exceptions to the rule.
I agree HNC There are a few exceptions to that rule. But 99.99% of the time, if a relative is paying, it’s because they can’t put up with the person living in their house. Would you want them living in yours?
If they say they’re an outside smoker, they will smoke inside.
Thanks for your ideas and suggestions everyone - I’ve got a much better idea of what to do now.
Interviewing the first applicant tomorrow. I’ll prepare some documentation in the meantime.
M
Another thing is loud music. Suggest earphones must be worn.