Potential tenants have the same right to investigate their landlords as the landlords do, despite the fact that checking out your prospective landlord is not as common.Your quality of life can be affected by the degree to which your landlord balances fast service against leaving you alone to enjoy your home.There aren't as many resources available for checking out your landlord.You can still call references and check other resources to get a good picture of your landlord.If you're a landlord looking for help with checking references for potential tenants, check out this helpful wiki.
Step 1: Ask about the prior tenant.
Ask the landlord if you can speak with the current tenant.Ask the landlord for a forwarding address if the tenant has already moved out.It's helpful to ask the tenant about the apartment as well as the landlord.Asking the prior tenant of the exact apartment you are considering will let you ask about any problems with plumbing, heat or other utilities and the landlord's responsiveness to any noise or traffic problems.
Step 2: Speak to other tenants in the same building.
This will not apply if you are renting a stand-alone house.If you are considering an apartment in a large complex or apartment building, you should speak with other random tenants.You can meet people on their way home from work if you go to the building at the end of the day.Ask about their satisfaction in the building and their happiness with the landlord.Ask how long they've lived there.Tenants who stay for more than a year are a good sign.
Step 3: Discuss the area with your neighbors.
You can talk to people who live in the same area.You can walk down the block over the weekend.Take a look at the activity that goes on.Talk to your neighbors about the landlord.Ask them about the kind of people who live in the apartments there.The stability of the neighborhood is an indication of satisfaction with the landlord.
Step 4: There are websites for apartment ratings.
Many websites designed to help you find apartments and houses will rate the buildings.Take a look at the ratings for the apartment that you are considering.Look at the kinds of issues that are rated.Try to find out what tenants think about utilities, maintenance, property maintenance and management, and any other issues that are important to you.You should be careful with the level of importance you put on user ratings.You have to consider that you may be hearing from only a few disgruntled individuals if there has been a relatively small number of responses or ratings.Percentages are more meaningful if there are many responses.When reading reviews, look for facts.Try to differentiate between people who had a personal conflict with their landlord and people with genuine problems.
Step 5: The landlord's name can be found online.
If you run a simple internet search for the landlord's name, you may find some useful information.There are likely to be public problems with the landlord or the property.Positive reports can be found if the landlord or apartment complex are involved in community service projects.
Step 6: There are apartment databases in the local area.
Depending on where you are in the country, you can find websites dedicated to local apartments and real estate issues.If there is a tool in your area, use it to find the property you are considering.Prospective tenants in the Chicago area can use the Cook County PropertyInfo website.You can use this site to find out if the landlord is current with tax payments, if there have been or are pending foreclosure actions, and other information from the County Assessor, Recorder, Board of Review and County Clerk.Prospective tenants in Wisconsin can use the TenantResourceCenter.com for similar information.
Step 7: If you have a complaint against the landlord or property management company, check with the Better Business Bureau.
You can find your local Better Business Bureau chapter on the national website.Do you know if there have been any complaints about the apartment complex or the landlord?
Step 8: You can talk to the police.
If you want to speak with someone about the landlord, you should visit the police station.If there is a history of problems with the landlord, try to find out if there are excessive police calls to the building or complex.The police log of calls for a specific address is usually public.
Step 9: To verify ownership of the property, check the land registry.
If you are looking for an apartment, you should visit the county court.The public has access to county real estate records.You should be able to use the property address to find out if there is a pending legal action.It's important to verify ownership to make sure you don't get caught.Sometimes people pretend to be landlords, collect a month's rent and security deposit, and then disappear.
Step 10: The county court has a list of cases.
The list of cases filed in the past few months can be found at the court.You can search by the name of the person you are looking for.If your landlord has a lot of cases filed against him or her, you should be concerned.If you find a high number of cases filed by the landlord, you should be concerned that they are quick to move for eviction or take other legal action.
Step 11: Check with the state agency for any tenant complaints.
Most states have a real estate board that can accept and investigate complaints against landlords.To find out what office covers this in your area, check with your landlord or apartment building.Tenants can file complaints with the New York Tenant Harassment Prevention Task Force.
Step 12: The Secretary of State has a consumer affairs office.
The Attorney General's office or Secretary of State usually accepts complaints from residents of the state on a wide variety of consumer affairs.Tenants and landlords have problems.If the complaints are a matter of public record or if you can search by name, you should check with these offices.Tenants can submit complaints to the California Attorney General's office.Information about tenants' rights and complaints about landlords can be found on the Minnesota Attorney General's website.