General Chit Chat:

[Rick Cantrell]

I know this is an inspectors forum but I thought I would post this just for grins and giggles.

What a rental application SHOULD have on it:D

I understand you have been staying with friends/ family, when/where was your last eviction?
What is your Baby's daddy in prison for?
How much money do you owe the water company? Gas? Cable?
How many weeks have you had this cell phone number?
Have you had a job that lasted more than 4 months?
Under "Expenses", show how much you pay your parole officer.
Do you have an ID? (HaHaHaHa)
What grade did you drop out of school?
Why did your mother kick you out of her house, this time?
When I called your "Last Landlord", why did your Fiance answer?
Where is your car title pawned at?

[Steven Turetsky]

Hmmm... Wanna share war stories?

[Rick Cantrell]

Hmmm... Wanna share war stories?
Lock and Load

[David Dolch]

Lock and Load

Tenants were making it difficult for the state inspector to get in to check smoke / CO detectors. So I run up there with the key, just in case. The tenants were there and did let him in, but one of the smokes and the CO detector were not working. I guess that is what happens when you take the batteries out to put in your kids toys and the TV remote.

Luckly something had told me to take a pocketfull of batteries with me just in case.

-dave

[Garry Sorrells]

Oddly enough Ricks list is what I have on my application. Maybe worded a little different, but the basic question content.

Hardwired smoke detectors with toy battery supply holding compartment is what I have installed.

Have learned the hard way that the tenant must provide evidence of new service for apt before they get the keys, actually incorporated into lease contract.

I started asking as part of the application that the applicant provide a copy of their credit report. I explain that it is free to them and can they can get it online. Many say that they can not obtain a report online because they can not verify identity to credit bureau. Which cycles back to Ricks first question.

[Corey Friedman]

Hmmm... Wanna share war stories?

If we are going down that road, count me in.

Corey

[Rick Cantrell]

Great big red flag
When they say "Here's the deal"
It's time to put on your knee high rubber boots.

When the address on the ID does not match with their previous addresses.

[Dave Ruth]

No 2 family members have the same last names.

[BridgeMan]

I'd recommend modifying the "Do you have an ID?" question to read--"How many IDs do you have, and under how many different names?"

[Rick Cantrell]

I'd recommend modifying the "Do you have an ID?" question to read--"How many IDs do you have, and under how many different names?"
I have actually had a few say they do not have an ID. Some say "I lost it", or "I did not bring it".

[Victor DaGraca]

Never ask for the name of their last landlord. Ask for the name of the one before the last one.
The last one wants to get rid of them and will tell you they are "Angels"
The one before the last one...will tell you the truth.

[Rick Cantrell]

Never ask for the name of their last landlord. Ask for the name of the one before the last one.
The last one wants to get rid of them and will tell you they are "Angels"
The one before the last one...will tell you the truth.
I don't agree that you should not ask for the last (current) LL.
Very rarely will they not give you accurate information.
I get at least 3 years rental history.

My list of most important is:
Do they have sufficient, reliable, and VERIFIABLE source of income.
Rental history. Not prone to frequent moving. No evictions, except on foreclosures.
Reason for moving.