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[Merika]

WOW...the Landlord Tenant Laws are quite different in Canada. There are places in Florida you can't rent if you aren't over 65...... it's VERY strict! They can also restrict animals, children and the number of people or cars you have. It's almost a GIVEN you are going to pay first, last and a deposit of equal value of a months rent.

Leases and Rental Agreements DO HOLD. If you don't keep it, they can easily get a judgement on you for the rest of the amount of months due, all legal fees incured....as well as keeping your entire deposit amount.

Not to mention you better have real good credit too....because they run a whole check on you.

It's easier and cheaper to BUY.

[Fayebelle]

Our landlord is great No lease- no deposit (not even 1st and last month's rent) Any pet BUT a dog (therefore we don't push out of respect) he must have a prob w/poochies He let's us do whatever w/the place - our kitchen is now red - the bedrm is blue and yellow- we told him we'd paint it back before we moved since not everyone might have our bright color taste but he says "no prob"

[Merika]

I imagine the laws will vary from state to state....since the US is set up like that. All places don't GOUGE for rent amounts either.....it depends on where you are at. I live on the beaches with two large Navy bases....the rent is ASTRONOMICAL. A 3 BR APT here will be close to $1200....unless you want to live in a ghetto. I pay $285 a month just for LOT rent!

[Star]

Lease agreements do hold up in court here too as long as they're done within the legal rights of the tenant.

Hubby and I used to manage 2- 300 unit apartment buildings. We worked for 2 different companies. We weren't superintendants, we were the managers. Big difference. I got to know the act to the fullest.

We also did credit checks on people prior to renting to them. If they had bad credit then they would need a co-signer with excellent credit and earning enough to support his/her own bills plus the apartment if the tenants failed to pay, that included damages. The apartments were painted and cleaned, in perfect condition when the tenant took possesion. If they damaged anything or painted, they were responsible for the cost of restoring it back to its original state. We did a pre-move out inspection so the tenant knew what needed to be done and how much it would cost them if left undone. We also did a move-in inspection which they signed so they couldn't go back saying something was wrong. We even took pictures so that the courts could see the damages left behind. I've seen some really gross apartments! People never seace to amaize me.

I enjoyed managing apartment buildings but we had no life. we lived in the building and seems we always worked for peanuts (we were on salary). We might go back to it when the kids are gone, who knows. Some companies are better to work for then others.

[Fayebelle]

Originally Posted by star_64

I enjoyed managing apartment buildings but we had no life. we lived in the building and seems we always worked for peanuts (we were on salary).

Eventually I want to own a Bed and Breakfast but I'm putting it off just for this reason. I figure it'll be good when I have school age children so I can be a stay home/working mother.

[Merika]

You are right about the way renters leave a place. My parents had a couple of rentals, we tried it while I was married and I've SEEN the way people leave a place. It's mind boggling how they could even LIVE in filth like that.

We had this young couple once who smoked....and they BURNED groove holes in the sink counter from laying cigs up there....rather than using an ashtray. People can really abuse a place.

It's because of them that rent is so high. It takes so much to clean up and repair behind them.

[Star]

The worst place I ever seen was this lady's apartment that I did end up evicting. It was totally disgusting!

There were 16 apartments on every floor. the tenants on this particular floor kept complaining of an unpleasant strong odor coming from this one apartment. I went up there to investigate it and to me, it reaked of cat spray. out in the hallway, the whole hallway!!!

So I scheduled an inspection with this apartment. I couldn't believe what I saw when I walked in there! She had 2 dogs and i don't know how many cats but the carpet was totally ruined (a total right off). It was so gross that it crunched when you walked on it! There were crap and pee stains all over the place, even on the walls. holes in the walls, the appliances were trashed and the balcomy was used for a toilet for her animals. didn't look like she ever did any cleaning in there at all. The bathrooms (there were 2) were disgusting. This lady had lived there for years, she was there long before I got to be her manager. This place was so grotesque that I wouldn't even let my dog in there to use as a toilet!

The bill for damages were high. Instead of going to court, I told her to pay us $7,000.00 and move out by a certain date. She chose what I had suggested otherwise, her bill would've been so much higher. She paid it in full and off she went. It took us 2 months to get rid of that smell in there even after we painted and replaced the carpets. we had to do a lift and seal before putting in the carpet because it was so bad. We had to replace both the fridge and stove and all the vinyl tiles in the kitchen and closets.

This lady wasn't much older then i am and she had a child living in those conditions as well. there were cat poops everywhere on the furniture including the beds. it was so disgusting. i can still smell it. gross!!

[Merika]

I've seen on the Animal Planet when they go in and rescue pets from people who own too many (they are considered psychotic pet collectors) and the places are just incredibly NASTY!!!! I don't see how someone could live like that and not die. How would you eat or brush your teeth?

Because I have a dog who sheds....I have to vacuum everyday. I even have a cat that is house trained so I don't have to fool with a litter box. I don't LIKE any kind of animal dirt, food or slobber on my floor or furniture.

[Merika]

Fayebelle.....I was interested in doing the B&B thing myself. I still may....never know. Here's a great link for searching around though:
http://www.bedandbreakfastforsale.com/

Actually, if you consider the room you get and all the furnishings (in most cases) it's not a bad deal if you only rented a room once in awhile to pay the taxes! Some are VERY well priced.....while other's are VERY expensive.

I think it would be a great way to enjoy your home....while making a living though.

[Fayebelle]

I went to Travel and Tourism school, Worked in hotels for 3 yrs- did 5 yrs various restaurant work- all b/c this is what I want to do.... SOMEDAY! LOL

For now I have a wonderful job selling clinical solvent recyclers- therefore I get to travel, save the environment, AND make $. At 25 it's a very nice place to be.

[dogula]

A 2 story colonial thing. Probably around 1300 square feet. It was built in 1939, whole neighborhood was built around 1940 and filled in after the war. Wood framed, brick facade, plaster walls. About 2 miles from Lake St. Claire.

[darkangelism]

I live in a dorm, that is about 350 square feet with one roomate, its the biggest rip off. I will hopefully be moving in with my friend and her bf next year...her parents are moving to florida and she gets the house, and she wants more then just her and her bf there so she offered me space for $200 a month + utilities and use of my car...in NYC that is nothing i pay $1000 a month for my dorm.

[Merika]

Sounds like Dogula has the COOL CRIB!

[dogula]

Originally Posted by Merika

I've seen on the Animal Planet when they go in and rescue pets from people who own too many

How do you like the high quality housing in detroit?

[Merika]