Re: References - Landlord Forum thread

Re: References by Jake on June 8, 2012 @23:12

"What can you legally say if the tenant wants a reference from you for another landlord?"

First, make sure your tenant is all the way out. You may say that you can not provide a full reference until they are fully gone. If they want a good reference explain that it will depend on how orderly they move out. Then you can tell anyone who calls after the move that you never give references. You never know who is calling. Is it the tenant's friends or the tenant's lawyer. You just do not know. Be especially sure you do not provide any comments in writing about your tenants.

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Re: References by Micah on June 8, 2012 @23:41	[ Reply ]

I disagree with "Be especially sure you do not provide any comments in writing about your tenants." Just keep to the facts. Do not give extraneous or unsolicited opinions. Normally it is a 5-10 question questionaire Common questions: Did the tenant ever pay late, if so, how often? Would you rent to this tenant again? How much was their rent? Were there any lease violations? Were the police ever dispatched to their apartment when they were in residence? Would you recommend them as tenants?

Re: References by Anonymous on June 9, 2012 @04:19	[ Reply ]

Here is how you can fudge this to protect yourself--answers are in CAPS: Did the tenant ever pay late, if so, how often? THIS IS BASED ON FACT, SO BE HONEST Would you rent to this tenant again? YOU MAY FUDGE THIS BY SAYING THE UNIT IS ALREADY RENTED--PERHAPS THEY WON'T PURSUE THE ANSWER TO THIS How much was their rent? I DON'T THINK YOU HAVE TO DISCLOSE THIS SO YOU CAN SAY MARKET VALUE Were there any lease violations? THIS IS A FACT BUT I WOULD ONLY LIST ANY VIOLATIONS THAT MERITED A NOTICE Were the police ever dispatched to their apartment when they were in residence? YOU HAVE NO IDEA ABOUT THIS, UNLESS YOU WERE THERE AT THE TIME. Would you recommend them as tenants? YOU MIGHT SAY THAT BOB ALWAYS HAD A SMILE AND JULIE WAS WELL LIKED BY EVERYONE--OR FUDGE IT IN ANOTHER WAY. IT SOUNDS LIKE HUMAN RESOURCES ASKING IF YOU WOULD HIRE THE EMPLOYEE AGAIN. I MIGHT JUST IGNORE THIS QUES AND SEND BACK ANSWERS TO THE OTHER QUESTIONS.

Re: References by Jake on June 9, 2012 @09:26	[ Reply ]

"I disagree with "Be especially sure you do not provide any comments in writing about your tenants." Go ahead and write up the all the reasons why you are terminating a tenant, put it in writing and let the tenants have a copy. Then see how much your property gets vandalized on the way out. Or, how much they come back and vandalize it after they are out. If there was ever a time for a person to keep his mouth shut it would be when a bad tenant is leaving in an orderly manner.

Re: References by Micah on June 9, 2012 @09:32	[ Reply ]

Why would you give it to the tenant? These are some of the questions that you ask the current LL when vetting a prospect. What do you ask of the current LLs?

Re: References