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Last time I rented from a private person, they asked me for some basic information. I sent them my last 3 pay stubs and a credit check in a short email. They ac

Last time I rented from a private person, they asked me for some basic information. I sent them my last 3 pay stubs and a credit check in a short email. They accepted me on the spot, and said most people can't even manage to write a proper email.

nsxwolf 6y ago
Every time we advertise for a new tenant we get many calls that go like this: "Do you do criminal background checks?" "Yes." "Ok, thank you, goodbye."
- jeffdavis 6y ago
  To me that's very up-front. There might be a lot of people who would try to hide disqualifying information, hoping you don't find it. There are probably a limited number of landlords who rent to felons, and they have to just make 1000 calls to find a place.
  - curryst 6y ago
    They also get it on both ends. Felons make 41% less than their same age counterparts [1]. Thus they are both felons, and have lower income (as well as a higher likelihood of evictions, etc). I've been reading Evictions: Poverty and Profit in the American City on recommendation from HN and it has been eye opening. They don't make 1,000 calls, but there are several stories of people making a little over or under 100 different calls because of prior evictions and/or felony convictions. The quantity is only magnified by the fact that they're limited to apartments that are ~$500/month (which is already ~75+% of their monthly income). The book is heavily anti-landlord, although I'm not versed enough to say whether that's the truth or if there is a heavy bias. I don't know what the solution is. There's a delicate balance of trying to give people a chance to recover or rehabilitate without also forcing landlords with cheap property to enter into blind negotiations and potentially damaging their own property. Frankly, Section 8 seems like a bad solution, and that we should go back to government owned and leased housing where you won't be evicted for complaining about sub-standard conditions because the landlord knows you can't afford a lawyer.
    - unishark 6y ago
      I think the real problem is it's just such a one-sided market in so many places due to market capture by property owners, plus just outright over-representation in lawmaking. If there were a lot more landlords desperate for any renters they can get to avoid going bankrupt on their units, there would be more options for everyone. As for public housing, there used to be housing projects in the city I live in. The murder rates within those blocks were probably higher than in any country in the world.
porknubbins 6y ago
What rental market is this? In big cities where the majority professional class rents competition has been stiff. I had to meet and interview with my last landlord about my career and income.
- deleted 6y ago
  [deleted]
- xenospn 6y ago
  Los Angeles, North Hollywood. Super competitive.
conductr 6y ago
> most people can't even manage to write a proper email So true. I get so many emails like “we can move in tomorrow” or “hook me up”. If they call, voicemails are only marginally better. Makes screening easier though as I simply do not respond.

nsxwolf 6y ago

Every time we advertise for a new tenant we get many calls that go like this: "Do you do criminal background checks?" "Yes." "Ok, thank you, goodbye."

jeffdavis 6y ago
To me that's very up-front. There might be a lot of people who would try to hide disqualifying information, hoping you don't find it. There are probably a limited number of landlords who rent to felons, and they have to just make 1000 calls to find a place.
- curryst 6y ago
  They also get it on both ends. Felons make 41% less than their same age counterparts [1]. Thus they are both felons, and have lower income (as well as a higher likelihood of evictions, etc). I've been reading Evictions: Poverty and Profit in the American City on recommendation from HN and it has been eye opening. They don't make 1,000 calls, but there are several stories of people making a little over or under 100 different calls because of prior evictions and/or felony convictions. The quantity is only magnified by the fact that they're limited to apartments that are ~$500/month (which is already ~75+% of their monthly income). The book is heavily anti-landlord, although I'm not versed enough to say whether that's the truth or if there is a heavy bias. I don't know what the solution is. There's a delicate balance of trying to give people a chance to recover or rehabilitate without also forcing landlords with cheap property to enter into blind negotiations and potentially damaging their own property. Frankly, Section 8 seems like a bad solution, and that we should go back to government owned and leased housing where you won't be evicted for complaining about sub-standard conditions because the landlord knows you can't afford a lawyer.
  - unishark 6y ago
    I think the real problem is it's just such a one-sided market in so many places due to market capture by property owners, plus just outright over-representation in lawmaking. If there were a lot more landlords desperate for any renters they can get to avoid going bankrupt on their units, there would be more options for everyone. As for public housing, there used to be housing projects in the city I live in. The murder rates within those blocks were probably higher than in any country in the world.

porknubbins 6y ago

What rental market is this? In big cities where the majority professional class rents competition has been stiff. I had to meet and interview with my last landlord about my career and income.

deleted 6y ago
[deleted]
xenospn 6y ago
Los Angeles, North Hollywood. Super competitive.

conductr 6y ago

> most people can't even manage to write a proper email So true. I get so many emails like “we can move in tomorrow” or “hook me up”. If they call, voicemails are only marginally better. Makes screening easier though as I simply do not respond.