--70.158.xxx.xx

I have an agreement with the local banks, they don’t provide housing and I don’t loan money. --99.23.xxx.x

Not conducting semi-annual inspections of the rental --47.155.xx.xxx

I also like Robert J's but I would say quarterly inspections. It amazes me at how many LL's do not do inspections. --73.120.xx.xxx

--64.130.xx.xxx

"working with" an applicant. --173.233.xxx.xx

Never turn over the keys until all move in funds have been paid in full and cleared and utilities have been turned on in tenant’s name. --216.186.xxx.xx

Knowing when Patience becomes Weakness. --199.192.xxx.x

FULL criminal background, employment, eviction, credit, rental histories. Checking social media, verifying all references and past LL's.... 2 minute in home visit. --137.119.xxx.xx

Never raising rents until there is a turnover. --70.161.xxx.xxx

In reality, I think most of us believe it's a good strategy. But it's a bit out of the ordinary so we feel uncomfortable doing it. I used to feel the same, but after my last semi-hoarder was evicted I threw away my discomfort and got down to the business of inspecting people's homes prior to giving them keys to mine. Game changer! --107.216.xxx.xxx

--184.20.xxx.xx

Failing to lead. --70.92.xxx.xxx

Forgetting the Golden Aldo Rule: The tenant is not in charge. The landlord is in charge. --99.203.xx.xxx

Not charging extra for pets --73.110.xx.xx

BIG "NO! NO! NEVER AGAIN!": "Sure, we'd be glad to put the utilities in our name until...." hahahahaha --24.252.xxx.xxx

Weak rental agreements. Not having any rules or not sticking with the established rules. Just to add a couple. --99.45.xxx.xx

Foolishly believing that because a new Tenant just got a huge windfall of relocation money from a big corporation, that she would actually use it to pay her rent! After First and Security paid by the corporation directly to me,...Evicted 7 months later, 7 months of no rent. Horrible mess. --72.199.xx.xxx

"Not doing a soft background check ". Looking up local info at the Sheriff's office (arrests/warrants), Clerk of Court records of evictions, bankrupts, etc. --67.7.xx.xxx

Thou shalt not approve those applicants who have a bad attitude. --67.43.xxx.xxx

Wow, great list and thanks for asking the question. Try to avoid a nit picker. --12.47.xx.xx

--184.100.xxx.xxx

--70.161.xxx.xxx

I also ask for Pictures of tenants that will be residing in the same residence, I feel it is a safety issue, If there was a fire and the fire dept, ask me for identity of tenants I have pictures, Would other landlords tell me if they do this, thanks. --98.213.xxx.xx

Gary, I take a photograph of their driver’s license or state ID, but not of any minor children. But, I do always get names of any children, for the very reason you stated. Never want to get that phone call, but am prepared if it comes. --70.92.xxx.xxx

Gary,i get photo id picture or picture of the person.When i had a rooming house in a bad hood a tenant ran away with a 15 year old girl and the cops came to me and i was the only guy with a picture,it helped them find him quick --104.229.xxx.xxx

--73.102.xxx.xxx

I require an ID (driver license or ID card) with picture on it and keep a copy in my file. Surprise, one tenant was using an alias. Ohhhh. I don't ask for pictures of minor children just verification of birth date. --72.199.xx.xxx

How do you get inspections on tenants moving from out of state? --108.31.xxx.xx

Dan --97.120.xx.x

Wow after reading over the thread I'm confident we have alot of "sinners" here. LOL. Excellent list. I'm considering compiling them and taking the top ten and making a 10 commandments plaque for the wall as a reminder when I have a vacancy. --98.237.xx.xx

I also try to go by the home they are departing - BUT if I cannot go by, I really look hard at how the car is maintained. IF there are stickers all over the interior car windows I know there will be stickers, markers, drawings and generally no care at all for the interior of my property.... It is a simple but true sign of no respect for their own personal property, which will mean even worse for mine. Took me all of two years to figure this out - and no issues since I quit taking "sticker cars" 16 years ago. --67.174.xxx.xxx

it all boils down to...toss 'em around on the way in! full screening, address checks, landlord checks, copies of bank statements and cancelled checks...make sure their story is 100% true. they are all your best friend when they are looking for the keys, find out up front if they're a nuisance and let those problems to other less discerning lords of the land. we learned this year that the powers that be can eliminate our monthly income with the stroke of a pen. that means that we need to treat this like the business it is. rent raises, late fees, regular memos about lease compliance and i urge ALL landlords to reconsider the granting of leases other than month to month...nothing shuts up a chesty tenant like an advisory that they can leave anytime they want. and nothing is easier than a simple termination which requires no reason except that you decide its time. --66.27.xxx.xxx

What Mike (CA) said about month to month has been the best change we made many years ago. We only have 10 rentals, some residents have been with us 15 years or more. They have actually paid for OUR proprties. It's a beautiful thing. --50.123.xx.xx

--73.102.xxx.xxx

Oh, and criminal background checks and eviction reports. --100.1.xxx.xxx

Sorry to admit - I'm guilty of most. And yes, I have been burned a couple of times. Currently have a guy that I felt sorry for - hasn't paid rent in 7 months (due to covid he says) but he's still working. Was supposed to be him and his daughter - now there are about 8 people living in the house and they won't leave. Courts have been closed - they won't allow us in the house "because of covid". We do have a court date, finally, of August 7th. I hate to even think what the house looks like..... :( My fault....but I have learned a valuable lesson....Never again.... --24.89.xx.xxx

DON'T rent out of desperation because you need the money. Vet your tenants the way and underwriter Vet's us when we get a mortgage. --69.47.xxx.xx

Kevin in PA - Great idea - I'm stealing that one. --24.89.xx.xxx

Never rent to family members, relatives, friends or friends of friends. These individuals are notorious for coming up with tear jerking stories as to why they can't pay the rent. --47.153.xxx.xxx

Thank you. --71.168.xxx.xxx

BTW- a few will simply not reply to the text. --67.43.xxx.xxx

Please do a search on this forum for in home inspection, in home visit, application screening. Any one else that can think of key words to search, please add them to this thread. There are definite safety concerns with this, as well. We’ve had good discussions. --70.92.xxx.xxx

Since 2006 this method has saved me from renting to the wrong person at least 15 times. --69.47.xxx.xx

I'm very confused now. --72.199.xx.xxx

SORTA BLOND, are you serious. That makes no sense at all. Are they going to pay for rodent fees, and lost of value for the neighborhood especially if they are hoarding in the front, side and backyard? Wow, this is getting crazy. One of the things I do before buying a house is look at the neighborhood for these type of things. --69.47.xxx.xx

One of the protections that mental illness protections always have had was equal protection under the law for those around the mentally ill person. For instance, one cannot just blanket discriminate against someone who is mentally ill in the workplace, BUT, if the person is making threats, or engaging in threatening behavior, that individual still can be fired. Hoarding can endanger the safety of the whole building. Now, if it’s clean, and controlled, I can see that as still being ok, but, when egress gets blocked, smoke detectors cannot function properly, floors are getting weakened, rotted..... --70.92.xxx.xxx

Hoarders have my sympathy but they're not allowed to create unsanitary conditions. There's no need to evict them for hoarding, you evict them for creating waste on your property and causing unsanitary conditions and for storing their stuff outside of the home or garage --66.27.xxx.xxx

Yeah, it's a biggie. HUD stands for Housing and Urban Development department which makes rules about discrimination in Housing (renting, buying) or the workplace (hiring, harassment). Dunno if it's particular to California, but they can issue fines if a prospective or current Tenant complains that you are not treating them fairly. I'm not up on government agencies. Maybe it's called something else in other states? Fair Housing Board maybe? I really don't think that I'd have to NOT get rid of, or insisted that a Tenant clean up if they were hoarders, especially if it's garbage and dangerous stuff. Calling the Fire Department might be a good thing, but I can just see them forcing ME to clean the place and put the tenants in a hotel at my expense while I do it. Then compensate them for the trouble. Or worse yet, the city could condemn my house. Nothing seems to make sense. --72.199.xx.xxx

A ( very quick) duck, duck, go search leads me to believe this isn’t a new ruling. Hoarding has been identified as a mental health disorder for some time now. Just means you need to provide reasonable accommodations, often in the form of extra time for a tenant to get back in compliance. In other words, document, document, document each and every time that you have addressed unsafe/ unsanitary conditions. Which we should all be doing anyway ( documenting.) --70.92.xxx.xxx

A future goal of mine is to check if the applicant has ever sued a landlord. If anyone knows how to do this, please speak up. I know that many tenant legal complaints go to a court referee or mediator and thus might not become part of the public records. Some applicants have learned how to work the system and I want to avoid them like the Coronavirus! --104.33.xx.xxx

I've suggested to the realtor about meeting them at THEIR home to see how their pets are, but all have refused. --24.0.xx.xx

To see who a person has sued or been sued by, I go to "Judiciary Case Search" in Maryland and enter a name. I've done this in Washington, DC too. Different states might call it something different but I would start with that --108.31.xxx.xx

I look at the car. If the car is a disaster, the house will soon be just as messy. Great idea about seeing their current home! In addition to background checks, etc, etc, I always want to talk with them and I listen very carefully. It amazes me what potential tenants tell me. For the ones who tell my about the awful living conditions in their previous situations or how horrible their current landlord is -- Red Flags are waving and I heed that warning. --99.140.xxx.xxx

Owner occupied duplex. You can get awfully annoyed by non-eviction behaviors and habits. --73.81.xx.xx

Getting caught up in the "should I own the property in LLC, landtrust etc. or my own name" merry go round. --72.188.xxx.xxx

The deadly sin in this concept is not knowing your comfort zone, and the comfort zone of your stakeholders ( spouse, heirs) . Not that you need to build a business according to stakeholder’s needs, but, they must be given consideration, to manage. --70.92.xxx.xxx

--73.102.xxx.xxx

BRAD --73.102.xxx.xxx

brad, hard to fake a cancelled check image, "front and back please". if they are the "i pay by zelle" type tell 'em "fantastic, pull up the account and show the last six zelle outbounds". --66.27.xxx.xxx

You can't assume "people know to do this or that or won't do this or that." This one's been hard on me but I'm getting better! --104.129.xxx.xxx