Tracy Press

A local woman suggests renters should be able to ask for landlords' credit history, too.

For those of you looking for that perfect rental, like myself, you know the routine. You must have a perfect credit score/history.

But what about all the landlords? How do we know that the house we are about to rent won’t go into foreclosure, because they didn’t pay their mortgage on time and have a tainted credit history? What I’m getting at is that if these landlords need a credit check from us, I think during this terrible housing market, we renters should be able to protect ourselves and ask for their credit history.

Who wants to end up with a notice taped on their door to let them know the house they are renting is up for auction?

I speak from experience, because my family is going through that right now. And how dare these landlords make you feel less then perfect because your credit was not. This is how my landlord made us feel, but all the time, he was plotting to defraud us out of a home and get as much money as possible out of us before he disappeared.

— Stacee Green, Tracy

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written by Larry Otter , April 13, 2008

Disappearing landlord? Sounds like TRAQC?

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written by maybenotdumBcommenT , April 13, 2008

The privilege of owning a home, and I am a landlord. I understand what you are saying Stacee but we take the big risk of having people live in our rentals knowing pretty much full well we will have a few thousand in garbage to clean up and then the repairs to the home after you leave. This whole housing slump has brought out the worst in a lot of people.

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written by Learned from Boss , April 13, 2008

Dont worry Stacee. That is on TRAQC's agenda too. When they get done you will be able to find affordable TRAQCHousing next door to Bob. I saw Bob at the last FourthOfJuly Parade. He was standing in the window two-stories above everyone on Central Ave, in his apartment window. Naked, except for a pair of underwear. Yuck! I will never forget that kreepy guy trying to show off his BVD's to everyone who came to watch the parade. Tracy must be getting too big for its britches, because everywhere you turn you see empty houses. Empty houses waiting for Bob, or TRAQC.

Did you say that you know someone who needs to rent? I think there are a few home-owners out there ready to rent. But there is a HUGE demand for apartments now that more people are out of homes. And with so much transition they are being more cautious than ever. Translation: they are raising the rent, to hedge their bets.

Hope it works out!

boss jr

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written by amy , April 13, 2008

Homeowners take risks of their own (monetary loss) when they rent out to renters, many skip town overnight to avoid back rent costs. Many times destruction to the property is evident when they leave the premise. Hiring of the professionals to make the place habitable is just not cheap! During the time of economic hardship it is just not worth the risk in renting the house to renters.

To protect yourself from landlords you mentioned, you might want to ask for legal advice in these matters, sometimes they would disclose the information requested. If you rented from a realtor who rents the homes for homeowners, you could ask? It is riskier to rent from classifieds.

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written by maybenotdumBcommenT , April 14, 2008

You could have a reality company look on reality trac to see if the home is in foreclosure. Probably a small fee.

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written by amy , April 14, 2008

Also, you could have your contract (lease) drafted in such manner that the homeowner's situation would give you advanced notice of their pending foreclosure. And.. that they will have to return the "deposit" to you so you could begin afresh elsewhere. You need legal help in drafting this "clause" into the lease before signing it.

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written by Stacee , April 14, 2008

This does not apply to all landlords, but to the ones that know what their doing and what they have up their sleeves.

We never thought that this would happen to us in the Redbridge area due to all the HOA rules.

I do understand that there are renters out there that cause the landlords grief and money because they have no respect for that person or their property.

Like I said before this was directed to the landlords that have a secret agenda and they know who they are and we are starting to take notice.

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written by Stacee , April 14, 2008

If there is anyone out there with a nice, clean rental who would to like to rent to us please contact me.

We have a 6 digit income and looking to stay in the $1600.00 to 2000.00 range.

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written by maybenotdumBcommenT , April 23, 2008

Of course not Stacee, but you have to cover all your bases. You have to do a walk thru with the landlords and if you discover anything wrong, immediately tell them. It is a risk renting from anyone.