Quote:
Originally Posted by zarrell
Having never rented before, I'm curious about all the personal information requested in the application forms. How much information should they be asking for and what is acceptable? It also looks like most renters want a deposit up front - how do I ensure that they don't just pocket the cash and not hand over the keys? Would just like some more information from those that have gone through the process before.
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Look at it from the owner's point of view, they're trusting you to live in the place, pay your rent on time, and not damage it. A bad tenant can run up tens of thousands of dollars of damage very easily, far beyond what the security deposit is.
So the answer is whatever information the landlord feels comfortable in demonstrating that you will be a good tenant. Some landlords don't do any checks, some are exhaustive. All are bound by the privacy laws so they are restricted as to what they can do with the information and how they are supposed to keep it.
On my forms we ask for contact information, current employer, previous employer, current residence / landlord, previous residence / landlord.. we also have spots on our form for driver's license # and SIN (which aren't required to fill in but might be depending on certain things). Vehicle(s) make/model/year (for knowing about parking), questions like "do you own a lawnmower". Also a section of "Have you been convicted of x" or "have you ever had your security deposit withheld". A section for references. It's pretty extensive, we don't require it all to be filled out, but enough that I feel comfortable trusting them.
If we feel it necessary we do a credit check (that's what the DL# and SIN are used for, makes it possible to find them, the SIN is only asked for if they don't have a DL#, I don't think we've ever actually used that).
We do checks on all the info, call current/previous landlords, call current/previous employers (all of which sometimes you have to be cautious, if someone works for Company XYZ, I don't call the # they gave me, I call Company XYZ's phone # listed on the Internet and ask for the contact person they listed, some people give their friend's cell #'s as employers and previous landlords).
A security deposit up front is very typical, I won't release a key until I have a security deposit in my hand and a signed agreement. Otherwise the renter could just flake out and not move in and now I have another month's vacancy probably. On the flip side I don't collect the security deposit until there's a signed agreement as well, so the tenant knows they have a place (I usually do the agreement, deposit, and keys all at the same time).
The landlords (in Alberta anyway) are required to put the security deposit in a special bank account for that purpose and can't touch it.
EDIT:
http://www.oipc.ab.ca/ims/client/upl...Qs_Mar2007.pdf
Owners/renters: What sites do you use for finding tenants/finding a place to live?
