All Forum Posts by: Fred Dray

Hmmm, in many instances someone new to the county may not have employment or qualify to be on a lease.  Thus, they end up living with relatives or others from their country while they find employment and get situated.  I've rented to quite a few tenants like this who now qualify and found most to be excellent tenants.

I suggest you ask if they were living in a unit that required them to be on the lease.  If so, then they were not following lease requirements and that gives you reason to decline.  But, if they are living somewhere that is not so strict and they pay their portion of the rent on time and caused no problems, then I would consider them.  Why?  Most will want to establish good rental history if this is their first time on a lease. 

So, I would try to determine if they were purposely avoiding being on the lease.    Have they ever been on a lease?  How long did they reside at the previous dwelling?  If they have lived here for many years and there is more than one instance of not being listed on the lease, then that is a red flag.  If they lived at one residence for six months and that's the only instance, then I would investigate more.   At least ask why they were not on the lease. However, @James Wheeler is right, factor in your gut feeling.   No since taking a chance when there are solid tenants with no issues out there.

The PM co. I used to work for gave out a booklet on lead paint, the owner I work for now does not, but has a lead paint notice on the lease.  Don't know where they got the booklet, but here is a link to something similair. 

https://www.thelpa.com/lpa/tips/lead.html

If renting to a family with children, I would include the booklet in their lease package.  Also won't hurt to include a mold warning/info sheet.

best of luck

What year was the unit you're renting, built? Housing built before 1978 are likely to have lead paint. Here is a link to HUD requirements for lead paint disclosure

http://portal.hud.gov/hudportal/HUD?src=/program_offices/healthy_homes/enforcement/disclosure

Otherwise, I can't think of anything else to address other than number of children.  The standard for CA is 2 tenants per bedroom and one in the living room.  So, you wouldn't want two adults and three kids in a 1-bdrm.   However, something like that would be listed in your tenant qualifcation terms.  You can't discriminate, so treat all applicants alike.  In other words no special lease terms regarding children crying...   We did have a provision for no scooters, skateboards, bikes...may be used on the building property.  If you choose to address something like no playing ball in the courtyard, make sure it is just stand alone...don't mention children.  It must be for adults and children or it could be discrimination.

Speaking from experience rather than legal expertice, I don't think you can/should evict.  I was walking the top floor of my unit, when I heard a commotion in the far corner.  Several police officers were ready to ram a door.  I asked it they wanted me to get a key.  I was given a card with for a city representative, told to call them to recover damages and ordered out of the area.   Boy were they serious.   Talked to the tenant later and he said all they took was computers.  He was Russian (this was before 9/11) and who know what he was up to.  The owner decided not to ask city to pay for repairs.  We took no action against the tenans as he was not arrested.  Ended up moving/fleeing two months later.  Left most of his belongings behind.

My advice is if you take any action not spelled out on the lease, get permission from an attorney who specializes in evictions.   I think your best bet is to wait and see what transpires.    Please let us know how it worked out.

If you use any clause about "odor free" then use that term.  You might be able to get away with "smoke free," but stating "curry free" does seem to target Indian tenants and that could be discriminatory. 

You seem to infer that having families with kids playing in houses around yours is preventing your from renting.  I doubt that's the case.  First of all 12 showings in a month indicates something is wrong.   Call the perspective tenants you showed the unit to and ask them what their objections were.  Check other ads in your neighborhood to see what their renal rate is and to monitor how long those ads are listed before they rent.  I agree with the posters before me, you're not supplying enough info to diagnose the situation.  Give us a link to your ad. 

I would post in Bakersfield Craigs List real estate/management section.  If a smaller building also consider current tenants if you have any that pay rent on time and seem responsible...although if current manager does not know they are being let go that might be tricky.  Seems like it might be difficult to find a highly qualified manager for that location/building, but you never know.  good luck!

Have had at least 50 Indian tenants and left over curry odor is a huge problem.  I could smell it in the hallway outside the unit.  Mostly it will be in the kitchen cabinets and stove/range hood.  Best way I found is constant scrubbing with white vinegar.  But, you have to spray generously the entire inside of each cabinet, let sit, then rub out.  Over night put leave cabinet doors open and use a fan to ventillate/dry.  Next day repeat process until odor is gone.  Fortuntately, our cleaning crew would come back after hours and work on it for cash.  For carpets, use white vengar instead of cleaner. 

hope this helps

Put everything (not just lease) that might end up in court; in writing.  Even if you are going into the unit to inspect and you told the tenant and they said okay...post a notice.  What if they forget and their boy/girlfriend is just stepping out of the shower as you enter?  Judges/Courts tend to favor tenants, so protect yourself by putting everything in writing.

Agree with @Max T..  Calling and then text would be my last choices because with e-mail you have a copy in your sent-box that you can print out for proof.   Anything official post or mail.  With tenants who I have a good relationship with, I will call or send an e-mail along with posting...just as a courtesy if their rent is late or something so the posted notice won't seem so daunting.