All Forum Posts by: Daria B.
Daria B. has started 151 posts and replied 1921 times.
Post: Bad tenants - we need a database :-(

- Rental Property Investor
- Gainesville, FL
- Posts 1,962
- Votes 431
Originally posted by @Joe Splitrock:
@Daria B. there are databases in addition to Renterinc that other people have started too, but nothing has gained mass traction. The problem is that any angry landlord could put someone on a list. The proof is often he-said she-said, so that is why these lists face potential legal problems.
The best system we have as landlords is the US legal system. That means when someone damages your property, stand firm on the damages. Either they pay or take them to court. Bad tenants will often have judgement against them, so when you run a credit report and see "XYZ Property Management", that is your best clue.
The other side of the argument is that some tenants are falsely accused or over charged. I have seen charges that are so high, it would be considered illegal. For that reason I wouldn't trust every landlord to rightly be placing people on lists. Court systems are there to mediate.
The other side of this is that there are also websites for landlord reviews, like reviewmylandlord.com so we all run the risk of getting put wrongly on a list.
I'm going through answering several posts so hopefully this is not a repeat answer.
The idea and database of information as it were, would be pointed factual based questions requiring a yes/no answer. And be simple like have they been late in the term period. If so, how many times. Was the same excuse given.
If like any survey the questions are open to the participants written ideas, then yes it's going to be a she said he said rather than using the yes/no method.
Post: Bad tenants - we need a database :-(

- Rental Property Investor
- Gainesville, FL
- Posts 1,962
- Votes 431
Originally posted by @Account Closed:
@Daria B. @Jay Hinrichs How much would you be willing to pay for a service where landlords could report how tenants did at previous properties? This would be a fairly easy service to create. Of course there would have to be a fairly long start up period to get enough reports into the database to be worth using it.
My initial thoughts on this was the need to have better defined "checklist" yes/no answers to more pointed questions. Like when they began being late into the lease term when paying rent.
One issue I see is some sort of life change into the lease term OR they were already borderline at the onset of the lease and likely would not be able to keep up the momentum of paying. I.e. A couple whose combined income is what % of or over DTI that put them on the fringes of failing.
Post: Bad tenants - we need a database :-(

- Rental Property Investor
- Gainesville, FL
- Posts 1,962
- Votes 431
Originally posted by @Billy Smith:
Most folks do not get a court order eviction ,there is no paper trial .I tell all new renters I must talk to last land lord or no deal.
I have had one try to cheat using a relative as a land lord ,my back ground person caught it .
One of my PMs makes a visit to the potential tenants living residence to talk to the landlord and see how they live. As explained to me, if they live clean and pay then that travels with them, otherwise, if they find from the landlord (that can be subjective. Who's to say they don't paint a pretty picture to rid themselves of the tenant.) they had issues and their living is too messy, it will travel woth them to the new living space.
Post: Bad tenants - we need a database :-(

- Rental Property Investor
- Gainesville, FL
- Posts 1,962
- Votes 431
Originally posted by @Shaun Patterson:
This is definitely a wish for alot of people but as said before any sue happy tenant will have a field day when they find out why you denied them. My motto is the best offence is strong defence. One of the things we look for when we screen is the ability of the tenant to pay and pay on time thats just one of the 20 things we look at when we go through our screening process.
Agreed on the screening but what specifics are in your tool box: how do you determine solid "ability" to pay and pay on time.
Any credit report that doesn't have sporadic (and do they report these anyway) payments won't tell you if he tenant pays on time.
What other things do you look at that gives you concrete evidence the potential tenant has been late paying.
For example, the former tenant was late 3 times all of which they had to be hounded to pay. This started after 1.5 years of already renting. Clearly something changed from when they were placed in the lease.
Unfortunately nothing of full proof.
Post: Bad tenants - we need a database :-(

- Rental Property Investor
- Gainesville, FL
- Posts 1,962
- Votes 431
Originally posted by @Tyler De Young:
Haha i love this. I had renters paint my perfectly smooth walls with purple 'textured paint', when they moved out they tried to tell me this was an upgrade and that I should be paying them for the improvement. The walls looked like they had grown facial hair, it was not an improvement. Sometimes these move out conversations are just funny.
And for things like that, it's a no contest when the lease specifically states "no altering" including paint. But they do it anyway.
Post: Bad tenants - we need a database :-(

- Rental Property Investor
- Gainesville, FL
- Posts 1,962
- Votes 431
Originally posted by @Angel Lowe:
@Daria B. There is a bad tenants database called RenterInc that's legal (according to their website) and I've submitted some of my bad tenants on there. They are relatively new startup from my city, Sacramento, CA. That's how I learned about it and have been using it for couple months now. However, I've been using their online landlord reference check service more then reporting bad tenants :(
@Cody L. maybe you could join the owners at RenterInc and see if you can join them.
I will look into that. :-)
Post: Bad tenants - we need a database :-(

- Rental Property Investor
- Gainesville, FL
- Posts 1,962
- Votes 431
Originally posted by @Account Closed:
This sounds like a PM issue. Another example of how PMs profit by getting bad tenants into a unit.
Manage your own properties. Do good screening. It's really rare for someone with great credit and job history to trash a place, even if that's all you have to go on - without prior landlord references.
Well this is a first and it happened.
While I can't get the details I am given enough to say yes or no. And I have turned down some - also switched PMs in the past due to their bar being set to high that all would fail the screening for which the PM put the onerous on the owner to accept, and if they did and something went wrong, the PM would not be held accountable (stated in their contract).
Everyone can't self manage for any number of reasons - while others may be able to do that it's just not doable for all.
Post: Bad tenants - we need a database :-(

- Rental Property Investor
- Gainesville, FL
- Posts 1,962
- Votes 431
Originally posted by @Betty Klein:
I second that advice, which puts me in direct conflict with long distance landlording. Last week I got a call from my gardener that my tenant turned off the irrigation 2 weeks ago, because she did not want to pay her water bill! A quick drive by confirmed it. A definitive no no in July in the desert. The management company was completely unaware since she was regular on her rent payment. They installed a lockbox for the timer the next day and served a 30 day notice to vacate. I had the same thing happen years ago as long distance landlord . When I did my yearly visit it was very expensive to fix the landscape.
And the tenant knew when she moved in that she would be responsible for the water bill for the sprinklers and still went against the agreed terms? Sad that people agreed to things knowing they won't comply.
Good idea on the lock down.
Post: Bad tenants - we need a database :-(

- Rental Property Investor
- Gainesville, FL
- Posts 1,962
- Votes 431
Originally posted by @Jay Hinrichs:
thats landlording.
but seriously banks already do this... there is a data base for those that bounce too many checks their SS is flagged and they can no longer open checking accounts anywhere in the US.. this is one red flag when you get a tenant who says they have no checking account... 99% chance they abused it bounced check after check and can no longer get one.
I wonder how if you filter with no checking account no rent to you.. how that would go.. or are you just one of the victims on their way to losing their checking account privileges.
Now this wont always work.. but if you buy rentals at the top of the market IE top 20% of rents in a given area your going to get better tenants.. were I see things like your describing is usually low end renters.. you know the stuff that looks great on paper but ends up being negative cash flow because of tenant wear and tear and the issues you describe.
however at the end of the day landlording your taking on some risk.. I had 11 new construction homes in Mississippi rents at 1,200 to 1600 top 20% of the market.. and i still have had some issues.. not drastic and defiantly better than 700 renters.. and one renter destroyed one home 45k in damage.. But by and larger better results.. now they don't cash flow as well % return wise on paper but I suspect over the long haul I did better than many who bought stuff that looked great up front and they end up with stories like yours.
My rentals aren't below $1k and given all markets differ, in this one, the range of $1300+ is one that commands a good tenant, all things being equal with good credit and a bank account. If here were a grading system, mine would be B's. In this case it was tenant screening that they got through.
Signs were tell tale later onto the rent period and I knew I was not renewing them. Juxtaposed to them are one of my other tenants that treat the place great and are pro about informing the PM of any potential issues - like today with a downed tree limb on the property.
Good info on the lack of a checking account. Later into the rental period they bounced 2 checks and the PM would no longer accept from them - only cash. Again, prior to that I had already decided to not renew.
Post: Bad tenants - we need a database :-(

- Rental Property Investor
- Gainesville, FL
- Posts 1,962
- Votes 431
I know this is probably border line - privacy issue - if not fully frowned upon. :-|
The title of my post - these tenants had no respect for the property - why doesn't there exist (again, venting) something that landlords can document what the tenant did to the property and share it? It would not be anything other than what we do now with our properties but we would be able to share that with other landlords. This would help others see just how bad/good tenants are.
Even doing the back ground check, debt 2 income, credit check all the other verifications - just doesn't always seem full proof. I've read of the professional tenant and how they manipulate the system.
Mostly venting here and telling others whether you self-manage or have a PM - get all and do all documentation pre and post tenant move.
Going through a disputed move out - pictures were taken (pre-move in and post move out) and the written documentation clearly has everything checked off as fair or good condition.
I was mortified at the condition.
The PM did all the right things and the tenant is disputing all the SD as though there was no damage.
They broke things and didn't say a word - they glued a kitchen draw back on - glue dripping down the face of the draw and it was on crooked. :-/
They changed the front door lock, I assume they broke it since there were so many other things that were broken.
They never changed the air filter - clumps of dirt and dust on all the vents and the return register.
Holes in the wallls and dirt all over the walls from kids hands and who knows what.
They almost burned down the house from the cooking being done with grease. Had to replace one stove and pretty much the replacement was also ruined. The cabinets took a few days to get the grease and grim off. Scratches weren't superficial but to the point of having to paint several cabinets. :-/ Crayon? Really?
Manipulative is what comes to mind knowing the condition and still they feel they are not culpable.
Ok - venting done and I'll be riding this to some sort of conclusion.