All Forum Posts by: Jon K.

Haha. Perhaps I should say, "the filthy rodent can come, but it must stay outside."

That's what I was thinking. Not allow it inside on the lap of it's owner?
I wonder if bunnies can survive in-climate weather... if it's 10 degrees, I'm guessing the owner would be too tempted to bring it inside.

The bunny was unable to sign the application; the bunny additionally could not provide me with employment references. It offered to pay in carrots.

Prospective tenant has a bunny.

- Bunny lives caged, outdoors (so they say).
- Tenant asks if bunny could come inside at times.
- This is a shared living situation, with me as a roommate.
- Tenant is moving from out of state and just finished Ph.D. Has good new job.
- Light carpets, nice drapery, crown molding, new paint, some hardwood... very nice property.

Do I...
- Charge deposit, and how much?
- Charge deposit and make it a month to month lease, so I can end if needed?
- Allow bunny outside, never to be brought inside.
- Allow bunny to live outside, and come inside only when tenant watches it.
- Not allow bunny, period.

I would almost rather a bunny than a dog, but I worry that the bunny will chew everything.

Tenant otherwise looks good. Currently tenant has roommates. Has good job. IS MOVING FROM OUT OF STATE. I worry that this tenant has a bunny, and is moving from out of state.

Dogs bark and aren't caged. I previously had a tenant with a dog, and that did not go particularly well. Dog jumped on windows and barked too much. That tenant was irresponsible and had a longer lease.

I googled "landlord bunny" and some say bunnies can behave when caged, others say bunnies eat the property and chew everything. I read that they can chew crown molding, electrical outlets, walls, paint, carpet, EVERYTHING.

Good tenants are hard to find around here, especially since it's renting out only a room. The college isn't all that close, and it's hard to find non-smokers with steady income in this area who wish to have roommates.

I don't/can't accept cats (allergies). Dogs have their own problems (barking, housetraining issues, jumping on windows). I don't know about bunnies-- I fear that the bunny would eat the property, but since I can keep an eye on the property and the bunny will live outside caged... maybe it will be better than other options.

Have you ever allowed a bunny?

Did the bunny eat your property?

Is a bunny much more risky than allowing a dog?

I'm not keeping this tenant for myself either. The tenant's lease will soon expire, and I have given notice that I will not renew. Perhaps I should have evicted early on, but.. live and learn.

So are you suggesting I provide a positive reference, or simply state tenant occupied property from X-X, ignoring all other questions?

- Tenant is still living in my property

- Is a signed tenant disclosure form a must? Surely tenant wouldn't voluntarily use me as a reference, knowing they have caused damage, etc.

- I would only give factual responses to questions asked of me. Is there risk in me doing so? One one hand, I want to aid this other landlord... on the other hand, I don't want any liability for stating factual negatives (property damage, etc.).

Is there any liability in providing references? Say, tenant claims something is untrue, etc.? The new landlord is a large corporate complex... so I feel a little less sorry for him than me. But, I can't honestly recommend this tenant either.

Should, and can, I give a current, reasonably bad tenant a rental reference?

Tenant has caused damage, been profane, regularly paid within late grace period, etc.

Should I tell tenant I don't give references, or do I have to give a reference, and do I tell their prospective landlord anything other than asked of me (tenant damaged, etc.)?

Seminary students... ha, ha.

One of my current tenants does not feel comfortable with the opposite gender staying over, and I want to appease this ideal tenant. A second tenant prefers none. And, no dates staying over tends to mean less drama or..er.. noise of a certain kind... but I suppose the rule should be "no dates staying over."

I didn't want to be so strict that it's zero overnight guests, since most people like their friends staying over. As for children, I'm very uncomfortable around kids (I dislike kids) and see liability in allowing minors to stay in a group living situation.

Thanks for all the info.

I'll nix the cleaning part. If it gets too gross, I'll talk to them and/or clean it and/or hire a maid.

Since I'm also the roommate, I can't advertise age or gender? I thought I could, as the roommate, specify the gender I want in a roommate? I've seen it done often, but keep reading/hearing not to specify age/gender/income source/etc., even in roommate ads.

I've adding rules about no water beds, swimming pools, bbq pits, and similar. Maybe I'm getting too specific, but the past few leases I've signed have had clauses about waterbeds.

I looked at my previous leases that I've signed for places I've lived, and they all had a late fee after day 5. I won't try to go with day 2.