In my early twenties, I moved to Brooklyn and found myself a room in an apartment. To say there were some red flags would be an understatement. There was no lease, the landlord didn’t ask me for references and the pizza place downstairs had bulletproof windows. Months later, one of the roommates told me they believed the “landlord” didn’t own the building and was renting it out illegally.
“Tenants are asked to give references, and management companies do background checks and consumer credit checks, but nobody ever thinks to try to do the same with the landlord,” says Carol Ott, tenant advocacy director at Economic Action Maryland. Many - though not all - city governments require that a property be registered and licensed as a legal rental, and a landlord who hasn’t complied should raise concerns. The particular agency that houses such information will vary from one place to another, but logical places to check include your local permitting office or department of planning and zoning.
• Missing landlord information. It’s basic but vital: their full name and contact information should be stated. • Overly subjective wording. Sometimes, leases try to place limitations on personal conduct by classifying it as “annoying” or “immoral.” This is problematic because such conduct can be interpreted very differently. For instance, “no loud noises after 9 p.m.” is understandable and specific, but “no annoying noises” is subjective and could lead to disputes, Puig says.
Jay Gregg, director of franchise development at Pillar to Post Home Inspectors, advises checking under sinks for evidence of a leaky pipe or drain. Even if you don’t find an active leak, check that the area below the pipes isn’t wet or stained. One of the clearest signs that a landlord neglects safety? There aren’t enough smoke or carbon monoxide detectors. There should be an appropriate number of them - working properly and installed in the correct areas - in accordance with your local laws.
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