Pee-yew! Smell that? It’s the rank odor of a slum lord.
Like the green percolating mac-n-cheese science experiment your roommate left in the fridge, bad landlords smell as soon as you open the door. Here are five tricks to spotting slum scamsters before you sign the lease.
Bad Rap
Word gets around, especially when it comes to the bad players in the Athens Ohio rental market. If a landlord has a worse reputation than a Nick Nolte mug shot, steer clear. These are the ones who never fix anything, charge you for damage you never did, keep your housing deposit without cause, or put their nose where it doesn’t belong.
Observe Other Properties
You can tell a bad landlord from the property they keep. Visit the apartment or Ohio University housing you are considering renting in person, as well as other properties owned or managed by the landlord. Is it in good condition? Are obvious repairs needed? Are the rentals’ yards in disarray?
Talk to Tenants, Former Tenants
Another good idea is to talk to current tenants as well as former tenants. Visiting a property before you rent it is always a good opportunity. Does the landlord fix things on time? Does he or she honor the lease? Request a sample lease to see what legal pitfalls you may encounter when signing with them; don’t be afraid to use Ohio University’s Student Legal Services, either.
Hidden Fees
So, you got a sample lease, nicely done. But read the fine print – that rent price may be too good to be true.
Most landlords have a “base rent” that you pay before utilities and parking. These prices vary depending on the type of unit you’re renting. A studio apartment will obviously cost more to rent than a five bedroom house, since more people means more money in the pot.
However, good landlords don’t have hidden fees that are oftentimes redundant. If you’re getting charged duplicate fees for maintenance on the apartment and the yard, and in some cases additional maintenance on your rental’s parking space too, it’s a bad sign. A good landlord will charge you for two, maybe three things: rent, utilities and parking if necessary.
“Rooms” are open spaces with no privacy
Some suspicious landlords will market apartments with more rooms than they actually contain – ostensibly to get more tenants, and thus, more money.
For example, a four-bedroom apartment may seem perfect for you and your friends. It’s spacious, has a yard, four parking spaces, is close to campus and right on Court Street. But that fourth bedroom isn’t really a bedroom at all, it’s a “loft” with no doors or walls sequestering the space away from the rest of the apartment. Do you want to sleep in a glorified living room?
These are just a few helpful tips to avoid slumlords. Obviously, this isn’t an exhaustive list, so be weary and always keep your guard up during your housing search.