Tenant Checker » renter tips http://www.tenantchecker.com Tenant Screening, Rental Credit Check and Background Check Services Fri, 16 Apr 2010 17:58:22 +0000 en hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.0 It’s a Renters Market http://www.tenantchecker.com/2008/its-a-renters-market/ http://www.tenantchecker.com/2008/its-a-renters-market/#comments Thu, 11 Dec 2008 23:54:21 +0000 Tenant Checker http://www.tenantchecker.com/?p=155 The winter is usually a great time to find an apartment in Los Angeles, especially in the beach cities, where the cold Pacific Ocean wind keeps prospective volleyball players and bikinis at bay.  According to Fox News, the housing slump has also created a renters market saturated with additional rental housing options for prospective tenants.  The reason is because many homeowners can’t sell their houses or condos right now.

“They’re pulled their condos off the markets and they put them in the rental pool,  so now our rental pool is now saturated too”  

Act fast to take advantage of this rare combined effect of winter and housing slump and pick up that apartment you’ve always wanted.  There are attractive rental rates available as well as incentives to move; sometimes 1month or 2 months free. 

If you are looking to live a complex, duplex, or any sort of apartment living in close proximity to other tenants, make sure your landlord screens every tenant.  This usually includes a credit history report, income verification, and employment verification, but should also include a criminal history search.  You can learn a lot about your landlords’ property management style by how they treat you during the lease signing period.

 



]]> http://www.tenantchecker.com/2008/its-a-renters-market/feed/ 0 Renters and tenants are victims of mortgage crisis http://www.tenantchecker.com/2008/renters-and-tenants-are-victims-of-mortgage-crisis/ http://www.tenantchecker.com/2008/renters-and-tenants-are-victims-of-mortgage-crisis/#comments Mon, 22 Sep 2008 18:56:55 +0000 Tenant Checker http://www.tenantchecker.com/?p=142 Have you received an eviction notice even though you have paid your rent on time?  Chances are that the property owners are in foreclosure.  According to CBS, renters and tenants in Los Angeles are getting evicted in record numbers due to foreclosure by the owners of the property.

35,000 housing units are currently in default within the city of Los Angeles, and are at risk of being lost by their owners. A large percentage of those homes are occupied by renters who face eviction as their residences are sold.

California state law requires a 60 day eviction notice for tenant who has paid on time and is in a month to month lease situation.  Some renters are getting evictions notices telling them they need to get out in less than that time.  Some renter are claiming that they have been asked to leave in 3 days.  If you are in this situation, call your local authorities and report the eviction.  Usually you will receive a revised eviction notice given you 60 days.   Then the real problems begin.   As more people are looking for replacment housing, the available rental market is feeling a spike in demand; rents are certainly to rise.



]]> http://www.tenantchecker.com/2008/renters-and-tenants-are-victims-of-mortgage-crisis/feed/ 2 Require Your Tenants to get renters insurance http://www.tenantchecker.com/2008/require-your-tenants-to-get-renters-insurance/ http://www.tenantchecker.com/2008/require-your-tenants-to-get-renters-insurance/#comments Mon, 25 Aug 2008 19:32:24 +0000 Tenant Checker http://www.tenantchecker.com/?p=123 According to a survey by Allstate insurance, 60% of tenants nationwide do not have renter’s insurance.   The cost of renter insurance is very cheap, usually $15 to $20 per month, and within the price range for most tenants who are not absolutely destitute.  Some landlords are requiring their tenants to carry renter’s insurance because it protects the landlords cash flow.  Should a tenant sustain a devastating loss without renter’s insurance, they might not be able to pay the rent.  And then the landlord must begin the long and costly job of the eviction process.

Tenant’s Liability

According the OC Register, some tenants believe that they don’t need renter’s insurance because they are covered by the building owner’s policy.  While the building owner’s policy covers the building, it doesn’t cover theft or kitchen fires.  Tenants are arguably liable for “any problem they create” such as a kitchen fire.  Even if your landlord doesn’t require renters insurance, it’s valuable for tenants the protect their property and the risk of a lawsuit with renter’s insurance.   Renter’s insurance should defend you should someone decide to sue you for slipping and falling inside your apartment or on your balcony.  Another little known detail is that renter’s insurance might be able to provide assistance should you be involved in a civil suit, similar to the protection provided by a home owner’s policy.   Talk to your insurance broker about the exact details of each policy.  

Landlords Benefits of Renter’s Insurance

Landlords who require renter’s insurance enjoy the benefits of having tenants who are protected, should a tenant-caused accident occur in the apartment, and it also provides a level of tenant screening, by screening out some tenants who are so strapped that they can’t afford to pay an additional  $15-20 per month.  If your tenants cannot afford this small amount, chances are they might not be able to pay the rent very soon.


]]> http://www.tenantchecker.com/2008/require-your-tenants-to-get-renters-insurance/feed/ 5 Chicago tenants may get protection against foreclosure evictions http://www.tenantchecker.com/2008/chicago-tenants-may-get-protection-against-foreclosure-evictions/ http://www.tenantchecker.com/2008/chicago-tenants-may-get-protection-against-foreclosure-evictions/#comments Sat, 16 Aug 2008 02:03:22 +0000 Tenant Checker http://www.tenantchecker.com/?p=114 Chicago tenants who face eviction due to landlord foreclosure may receive some additional assistance from City Hall.  The plan is being put forth by the Chicao mayor Daley, which will provide up to three months of rent and moving expenses for tenants affected by the landlord foreclosure.  The new bill is also looking to expand the notice to 90 days notice for all tenants affecting before being evicted from foreclosed properties.  According to the Chicago Sun Times, some renters “get as little as five days’ notice.”

Keep them renting or abandon the building
This bill addresses a larger strategic issue for urban planners, whether to keep foreclosed buildings with renters inside to maintain the value of the property, or evict them and have an abandoned building on the block, open to vandalism and abuse.



]]> http://www.tenantchecker.com/2008/chicago-tenants-may-get-protection-against-foreclosure-evictions/feed/ 0 Tenant’s Worst Nightmare : Property Foreclosure http://www.tenantchecker.com/2008/tenants-worst-nightmare-property-foreclosure/ http://www.tenantchecker.com/2008/tenants-worst-nightmare-property-foreclosure/#comments Wed, 25 Jun 2008 22:36:59 +0000 Tenant Checker http://www.tenantchecker.com/?p=37 In a difficult economy, tenants can a face their worst nightmare: moving into a apartment only to learn that the property has been foreclosed and they must get out.  After moving costs, tenants are facing with moving their stuff again.  Any legal action is destined to cost money.   Also while living in the foreclosed property they might be subject to losing utilites which are taken care of by property managers such as water and gardening.

North Adams Transcript has a full article about a horror story that occurred to one family :

“we all found out the house was in foreclosure and we were all being evicted”

At tenantchecker.com  we frequently talk about the need for landlords to screen their tenants; but perhaps tenants need to start thinking about doing some checking of their own.   Can you screen your landlord?  Part of this will include some common sense.  Inspect the building before you sign a lease.  Do you see any signs of problems.  It’s painfully obvious, but is there any foreclosure notes posted on property?  Ask around the neighborhood.   Ask the neighbors what they think.   Finally, you can conduct a landlord background check by running a Business Partner Owner Check.  These reports can tell you who owns the building, and possible liens and UCC violations that might have occurred.

 

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