How Many Here Have Had Renters?

During the first two year of my marriage, we had to rent in order to live a separate life from our oldies. Well it was quite hard to rent because you are living in a place that is not really yours. There are rules to follow. Sometimes the landlord would even knock on your dog to tell me my dog is barking too loud. She seemed to be watching on every details of my life actually. Well I am glad those days are over. We now have our own house and it is our own and nobody else dictate on me. It is a total freedom.

I would take it one step farther and have a rental agreement drawn up that sets everything down so everyone knows what is what. There are several free sites that have sample agreements online just pull one up that you like and print it out. have your renter agree to it and both sign it and you are better protected. Most states have laws that help landlords and tenants.

You need to have a proper lease otherwise you don't have a leg to stand on. Get references too and CHECK them. My first tenants were great...they painted and did minor repairs. They left my little house just a bit better than it was when they moved in. The second lot were ok in that they paid most of the time and caught up when they were late but they called repairmen out for the slightest thing...like changing the light bulb in the oven. A 20 second job cost me $65...there were quite a few of those call-outs for different things. The next and last lot rarely paid rent and I turfed them out. Luckily they went. If you get a bond, make sure you lodge it at the correct place...here in Australia, a bond is lodged at the rental bond board. You can also ask for the first 4 weeks rent in advance...just don't spend it straight away.

Did you ever see that movie with Michael Keaton? What was the name of it? It is called Pacific Heights. He plays a psycho tenant. If you haven't seen it you might enjoy it. Relate to it! I think, as renters, you have every right to be assured that the person(s)you are renting to are everything they say they are and are responsible enough to rent to. There alot of weirdos out there that can seem so nice and turn out to be irresponsible nuts. I have had just the opposite in a way. I have had some very strange landlords. there was a discussion on here recently about a woman or guy ? that their daughter had a overly sensitive landlord. She could even walk across her floor during certain hours or she would hear his rath. Can you believe it? I think people who rent and are going to rent really need to set down and figure out what is realistic to expect from either party. And not change the rules to meet with their expectations too. SOunds like you have had enough experience that you know what you expect and I woould make them sign a paper saying they understand. I had to do that with my daughter because she becomes manic and is irresponsible. House rules are important. It is your house and they are merely boarders and maybe you need to write up a paper with your expectations on it and have them read it or be aware of it. Zero talerance too. Think about that.

Yes, there are all kinds of people out there. It is good to know that you have become wiser in choosing your tenants. Many years ago my husband do rent out the rooms in his house to different people. Some are nice people but some are very 'calculative' and really take advantage. They get their boyfriend to stay yet show their 'unhappy' face when my husband asked her to pay an additional rent for the additional occupant.

I've never rented a room for someone before but this sounds frustrating. Renters that spend all their money on casinos or any type of vice and forgetting their rent are non-arguably irresponsible. They should mind that they're renting on a place so they should at least keep some money to pay for it.

SOn in laws people from he** broke things never to tell about it we finding things all the time now. Only help was the end of the 4 years with food and maybe some things like washing powders and toilet tissue. Nothng on extra lights Water or other bills. Wasnt like renters as our house isnt that big and the other grandma would take over grand daughters bedroom so she either slept with me or her mom. Sooooooooooooooo glad they are gone we will not have them back again!!!!!!111

I've had renters off and on since I moved into this house. Most have been good about doing their share, but there are always a few who take advantage of my good nature... And then there was the one who let the cats out!

hi tina years back whemn we rented a room adjacent to the garage and the p eople neverstopped complaining. We had told them int was not an apartment just a sleeping room but they tried to cook in their and kept blowing f uses until we had to ask them to leave. We got the rent we asked for but the renters tore the room all apart but we were so glad to get rid of them.we did not mind that. we never rented again. Most people wanted an apartment where they can cook. this was just a sleeping room in a good part of Costa Mesa Ca.

havent had this experience for many yrs. im thinking though if they pay and do their share it would be good to have one. i keep telling son we need to try it for financial reasons, but hes to selfish of his privacy.

I rented my grandmother's house out after we reunited. SHe lived in California and it was hard for her to manage. My mother had lived in the house for years and after she moved..my grandmother wanted to rent it. I actually lucked up and chose a college couple. I was leary about them but at the same time, I had a good feeling. My grandmother loved them. They were always on time and was never any trouble. I was worried though..they used a trust fund as a payment reference. They had a couple of other means too but that was their main. I think it is honestly hit or miss when it comes to renters. I hope you get some better luck with them.

We have shared the same nightmare. One couple let their child ride his bicycle in my white tiled foyer. Another illegally rewired electric fixtures. And they threatened me as if it were their house when I wanted to keep some of their deposit money for repairs for the damage they had done. One painted rooms without permission...and more. I would never want to rent again, since most people I have dealt with recognize no responsibility on their part to give proper care to my property or even pay the rent money they owe.

When I got married we moved to another city. While I was gone I rented out the house I had before we were married. I had a friend that was in Real Estate handle getting me tenants and fixing anything that needed done. Because of that I really didn't have any problems. The only thing was I didn't allow pets, but the one tenant had a dog that he never told us about and there is a stain on the carpet.

Well I am living in a house which i have taken on Rent, And i have divided every room of it in three seats..Like an Hostle..But not a hostle..I keep only the boys i know..Like my university friends etc..But Like Paying Guests..U know we have to divide all expences..But U will not belive in even such a case where all the expenses are infront of everyone, thier are some who are just not willing to pay bcoz they want others to pay more..And i hate such people

If possible get first, last months rent and a cleaning deposit to be refunded only after you have oked the place rented. I have dealt with renters and been a renter so I know some of the pit falls. Blessings

Hi Tina When I use to won my home I did rent one time. I can actually say it was a very good experience. We did set out all the expectations in the beginning but partly more as the tenant was a very good one. I would not have rented in the first place but felt bad when I was asked. Luckily I never had any issues and it was for six months at the time. Because of the many stories prior to my own experience and or as of late, I would not want to be a renter anytime in the future. We are not lucky each and every time, so I would not want to gain any of the headaches I have heard from so many. Yes what you are considering is exactly what you should be doing, though no guarantees that all will go smooth, at least you will have some sort of sense who is coming into your home and have the legal side covered too. Good luck and hope works out when you get a new renter this time around. As I do remember the past issues, so hopefully a new one will be of some help.

I've rented before. I haven't done it in a while. I ended up selling the house that I was renting out because it was a big mess. The messes I ran into was people not wanting to pay there payments from the beginning, people doing a good job paying from the beginning then not and every time I would get a place back it would need to be remodeled because it would be too damaged to rent out and then all of the money put into remodeling it before they got into it would be messed up and then I would have to do it all over again and the cost of the remodeling cost more then the money I ended up getting from renting out the places. I know some people that had very good luck in renting out places though.I never did though.If I ever did it I would want to do everything you are saying that you are going to do and get references of phone numbers of places that they rented from before and make sure you call the references to see if they were good renters for them. Good luck this time in getting good renters!

Hi Tina, Unless you REALLY know the person, I think you have to go all out and require a credit check and criminal check and whatever. You have to know this person or people pay their bills. You don't want to find out after the fact and get screwed out of your money. I would love to have a mother in law apartment. I was in that kind of situation once, it worked out well for me. I was the renter then and I stayed there for 3 years. If my friends still had that house, I would probably still be there. They knew me and knew that I paid my bills and I was never late. I hope it goes well this time Tina. Be careful.