Any landlord / tenants out there?

[truckermatt]

Re: Any landlord / tenants out there?

trucker: here in ca after three years the carpets are suppossed to be replaced. i worked for an apartment rental co. and they would always find little things to charge to the tennants that are on the out. we always repainted and cleaned the apartments as well as replace or shampooed the carpet. even if the tennant had done all of this. they were still charged. i think most of the charges were bogus and the slumlord that i worked for was money hungry, take them to court if you havve to but dont give in like most people. i now rent from my aunt and she pays for everything that i want to do to the house as long as it is improving the place. i have sent her a bunch of reciepts and only 50 bucks for a months rent and she called and asked a few questions but i explained and she had no problems.

I currently rent a duplex and my new landlord is the same way... i can deduct from rent what i do to repair the place... i enjoy it hear now.

 

[ezmobee]

Re: Any landlord / tenants out there?

This is a fantastic thread. I'll be renting a place soon for a short period until I find a house to buy. I need to know about stuff like this.

It sounds like photo-documenting the condition of the apartment when you move in would be a wise move WITF.

 

[kenmyfam]

Re: Any landlord / tenants out there?

I have over 500 digital photos of before and after our daughter moved in. Good ammunition if the landlord takes her case any further.

 

[a70eliminator]

Re: Any landlord / tenants out there?

I used to work for a large apt. rental corporation.
They would go after every security deposit, alot of people would just pay up but the ones that went to court usually lost, the company retained better lawers.

 

[truckermatt]

Re: Any landlord / tenants out there?

It sounds like photo-documenting the condition of the apartment when you move in would be a wise move WITF.

Indeed. in my new duplex i went "photo happy" when i moved in, something i wish i did when i was in the apartment.

 

[kenmyfam]

Re: Any landlord / tenants out there?

I used to work for a large apt. rental corporation.
They would go after every security deposit, alot of people would just pay up but the ones that went to court usually lost, the company retained better lawers.

If the landlord shows up without photographic evidence and the tenant does then they usually side with the tenant around here. The small claims court do not particularly like the "shark like" rental companies.

 

[skargo]

Re: Any landlord / tenants out there?

As a landlord with multiple properties carpeting is a cost of doing business. If someone leaves after a year I will clean them. If they leave after 3 or more I will replace them. If they are destroyed and they are still fairly new, then I will go after their deposit.
I deal with mostly section 8 and other programs, and my deposits are usually smaller than a market tenants would be.
I use cheap industrial style carpet in all my units, usually brown, it holds up well.

I've been leaning towards going carpet free here as of late though.

 

[Philip_G]

Re: Any landlord / tenants out there?

As a landlord with multiple properties carpeting is a cost of doing business.

Ditto, however if the carpet is disgusting I'll charge the renter for cleaning. I used to ask that they clean the carpet themselves as a part of the lease, I found they either did it themselves or almost worse, used a crappy company.

on the carpet thing, laminate is cheap and awfully hard to damage.

 

[skargo]

Re: Any landlord / tenants out there?

Ditto, however if the carpet is disgusting I'll charge the renter for cleaning. I used to ask that they clean the carpet themselves as a part of the lease, I found they either did it themselves or almost worse, used a crappy company.

on the carpet thing, laminate is cheap and awfully hard to damage.

My most recent rehab I put down laminate on the main floor. I put it over top of some nice hardwood, original to the house(1927) I think my next one I will just put down 3 coats of poly on the hardwood and see how that goes.

Here's the laminate I just put down.