All Forum Posts by: Nancy P.

I agree,  but you have to be careful.  If you choose the "easy"  every time,  the potential exists for you to be sued for discrimination since "disability" is one of the seven protected classes.  And it certainly isn't easy to tell immediately who is easy to get along with.  I'm all for allowing REAL service or therapy animals,  as I said,  as soon as I state my requirements they go "poof".  Problem solved.

ETA--Forgot you are in British Columbia,  different rules apply to you!

My Illinois attorney advised me that I can indeed demand that they provide proof from a local provider BECAUSE the stuff on the Internet is fake.  Now,  HIPPA laws mean I can't ask what exactly the potential tenant's mental health issue is,  but I can ask for a letter from  a real doctor saying s/he prescribed a therapy animal.  Now,  if the person has a letter from a doc in California or something because they are moving to Illinois,  I would accept it after verifying the letter.  STILL,  the dog has to be a breed my insurance will accept,  and well trained and well behaved.

Still it hasn't been an issue...it's just a trick people are pulling and they go away as soon as you say you need proof.  My own personal opinion is that EVERY pet is a therapy animal.  My grandma knew petting a cat lowered her blood pressure in the 60's.  It's not new.  What's new is the attempt to get around reasonable rules and restrictions. 

A dear friend trains dogs to be companions to autistic kids.  It's fantastic.  I love dogs, (cats, too, but I'm allergic),  I do my best to accommodate them,  but I won't be tolerating B.S.

ADA rules say RELIABLE documentation.....

 Do they not have to prove that in British Columbia?  In Illinois they do,  and my attorney advised me I could ask for LOCAL paperwork as the Internet stuff is just a scam to make money.

All but one of my nine properties are condos,  the association generally limits size and breed.  My personal limit is two four-legged pets.  (You can have all the fish you want.) Had one dog destroy the carpet,  but this was an FannieMae rehab -they put down cheapest carpet WITH NO PADDING.  She lived there 4 years,  this dog would get shut into a room and try to "dig"  out.  But seriously,  carpet without padding doesn't have four years of life in it anyway.  I replace living areas (and some units the whole place)  with true vinyl plank that snaps together.  If you unit floods,  or dog pee is in there,  you pull it up,  wash it,  clean and dry the subfloor (or replace if ruined),  put the vinyl right back down.  I charge $300 per pet deposit but no pet rent.  Have never kept pet deposit.  I think having a dog  or cat makes people give more of a damn about everything.   I too,  have in the last year been getting the "service animal" inquiry.  When I say I need to see paperwork NOT generated from the Internet,  they quickly vaporize......

OK,  last December 26 a neighbor who was renting knocked on my door and said she'd like to buy my house.  (She'd heard we were thinking of downsizing.)    We struck a deal and each had an attorney.  This is in IL.    My attorney charged only $500,  his usual fee,  but guess what.  Only Realtors have the disclosure form.  A couple of things came up during the review period after inspection.  My new Realtor (last one retired to Vegas),  has sold us three things in less than 2 years.  Because of that alone,  she helped me with that stuff because my attorney kept saying "I'm not negotiating for you."    I have since met an "hourly"  Realtor here on BP.  If you could find one of those I think that's your best bet.

It's never a mistake to consider tenant's needs!  I have two properties with pedestal sinks in the half bath and immediately tenants complained...we put in cabinets over the toilets.  Everyone needs somewhere to stash the toilet paper.  You did a good job.

@Merritt Steinbach

Very well said.  Even if you're only about the numbers,  this is something to consider.

I feel compelled to say...it's OK to not just be about maximizing profit!   That is truly a U.S.A. phenomenon,  and fairly recent one at that.  I happily live in Germany right now (Husband's job brought us here) because I am more comfortable here where the social contract is very strong.  Not right or wrong,  just different.

Wondering if this latest Milwaukee flood will change any of that.....

We also have elderly tenants (mid 80's) paying $200 below market.  But they were are neighbors who had to sell due to the husband's health, and we love them, so we're OK with it.  I know BP is generally about maximizing income but my H is blessed with a very high paying W-2 job.  We see how hard it is to make ends meet for many of our tenants.  We do increases,  because dues and taxes go up every freaking year,  but we don't jump the rent because the market says we can.  Everyone is different in both what they feel is right and what they can afford.

I assume you mean EXTERNAL monitoring?  I don't know of any state where it's legal to spy on folks.  MAYBE the yard and outside.  Maybe.   Or maybe they agree to that?

Your other factors I agree with.  I agree with (mostly women) saying everyone wants a decent safe clean home.  Provide that and you can make money.  But personally we are on the other end of the scale.  We own in an affluent area and tenants have very high expectations.