All Forum Posts by: Susan H.

 Good to know!

My Allstate insurance agent recommends $200,000; perhaps that varies by locale. Did you ask your own insurance agent? That might be helpful.

John, I did that when screening applicants previously. I do think it's helpful for prospective tenants to know why they were rejected. 

I did have a few students who applied before, and each of them said "My parents will pay." Before I could process their apps (and I was clear that I processed apps in a first-completed first-screened) I found qualified tenants. I refunded the app fee for everyone else. 

This time around I'm thinking of what if anything I need to say in the qualification criteria. Since I have the income requirements clearly stated, I didn't think I needed to say I won't consider co-signers but wanted to check on this forum just to be sure.

 Thanks Greg. I cannot find anything in the AR landlord/tenat act or in the local statues. 

I have a rental property in a single-family residential neighborhood that's close to a fast-growing university. About 10% of the houses are rentals, and an estimated half of those are currently rented to students. We have a city ordinance restricting occupancy to three unrelated people, but neighbors report there are already several houses that violate this ordinance. The students occupying those houses are out-of-state students and (judging by their high-end SUVs and neighborhood info) come from wealthy families with parents as co-signers. This has been a hot topic at neighborhood meetings (which I attend).

I'd actually prefer not to rent to multiple students but of course cannot legally advertise "family preferred." From what I've researched, however, I understand that I can legally refuse to consider co-signers (unless a disabled person has a co-signer). My question: do I have to disclose that in my ad? Rental app?

 Some initial thoughts: I look at the way the dog reacts on leash. In the AKC's Canine Good Citizen test one of the items is "loose leash walking." A dog that's comfortable and confident on a leash (no lunging) is likely to also be confident meeting people.  (Find info about all the test items here: http://www.akc.org/dog-owners/training/canine-good...; short video clips available on YouTube so you can actually see what they're talking about, and what to look for). Responsible dog owners are happy to show off their dog's training. Do ask how long the owner has had the dog, how she came to get the dog, and the dog's training experience. Have they completed basic obedience? If not, why not?  (Since the dog goes to doggie daycare I'd expect to see obedience completed, as that's a common requirement.) 

At a minimum, will the dog sit at the owner's command while on leash? Does the dog sit quietly while you visit with the owner? Both of these can help you assess how well the dog will behave when walking in the neighborhood. If at all possible, walk a little bit with the owner while dog is on leash. Remember that dogs may behave differently while in their own territory (house, yard) than when out for a walk.  

You mentioned doggie day care before. Can you go and observe? Ask the kennel owners what they've observed about the dog, any issues they've noticed.

A caution: don't attempt to pet the dog without the express permission of the owner. (This is true for anyone, anywhere!) Ditto with the offer of dog treats or food of any kind. Just as people don't always like every other person they meet, the same is true for dogs. The key, though, is to be sure the dog responds to the owner in a positive manner and does not behave aggressively toward others.

@Account Closed (speaking as a former 1st Sgt and senior enlisted advisor), I'd suggest you MFR your supervisor and alert him/her to the situation if they're not already in the loop. And if they already know, I'd still do the MFR and document every step of the process. Whatever your rank, you may need the documentation to prove diligence.

Possibly weird idea: have you used BP to search for a new PM who could assist? Alternatively, is there anyone you trust in the area where the house is to communicate with the attorney for/with you?

 Excellent! Keep us posted.

PM me if I can be of help. Between having a sister who's an expert dog trainer and five years' (and counting) research into the subject of dog behavior, I've developed an extensive network of dog-savvy folks and information. Happy to share whatever I can!

 Should have added to my earlier post: I have a dog and hardwood floors through much of the first floor. I keep her nails well trimmed and the floor is fine--and I'm fussy about the condition of my property.

Ask your prospective tenant about the dog's nails. Does she trim them herself or have them trimmed by a groomer or other dog-knowledgeable friend? (I have a groomer who takes care of Sasha's nails plus my sister (dog trainer) for in-between grooming appointments.) Asking about grooming habits can tell you a lot about this owner's sense of responsibility.

Keep us posted!

 My current neighbor has a pit bull and she is quite probably the most well trained dog I've ever met. The neighbor across the street has a teeny-tiny dog and it's totally untrained and obnoxious.  Moral of the story: judge the dog, not the breed.

As a landlord, I ask about the dog's training (for example, obedience classes? What about the AKC's Canine Good Citizen certification?). Call the vet and the doggie daycare and see what they say. Go observe the dog interacting with others.

Just a thought: the prospective tenant may want the listing because it's close to her work, will help her save money, or any number of reasons. She might also be offering more money upfront in anticipation of rejection due to the dog's breeding. 

I appreciate that many landlords are reluctant to rent to those who have dogs of certain breeds, and I know many communities have banned some specific breeds. I've researched this issue extensively for a book I'm writing and have learned that many of those same communities have rescinded their breed bans.

Here's a statement by the AKC that's worth your time to skim: http://images.akc.org/pdf/canine_legislation/why_b...

 Elizabeth, I'm so sorry to hear you're having such a difficult experience.

Do you have renter's insurance, and does it include a loss of use rider? Contact your insurance company and see what your options are.

Can you contact a home inspector, explain the situation, and see if they'll come do a quick walk-through? That documentation could help you as well.

Sorry I can't think of anything else at the moment. Please do keep us posted on what happens!