So LL's, would you rent to us?

[StrandedCT]

Yes, there are several colleges in our area (including the one I am currently attending, and hun and our friend are graduates of-hun and I are "locals") The previous arrangement was that we were renting the unused floor of my parents house while attending school, three minutes off campus, no worries until after I graduate. I made the mistake of putting some of mother's belongings into the attic to make room for the new furniture (shes a hoarder) and that's what sparked this mess.

With such short notice many of the area's college-heavy rental areas are already reserved for the fall though. Other rents in the town are more seedy, catering to the (substantial) section 8 crowd. Neighboring towns want the same rent for much nicer/roomier areas- as their prices aren't inflated to squeeze the most out of the government.

Judging by some of the responses, it would probably help our case if hun and I presented ourselves as fiance's. The only reason we didn't get engaged years ago was because it would have been a ticket to the street corner. Thats clearly not an issue any more. We'll probably do a town hall wedding early next year, our "couple best friends" are getting married in October and we don't want to possibly cause offense by beating them to it.

Thank you all for your frank replies. The offices of a lot of the complexes open in about an hour, so I'll have calls to make. The applications I've seen so far want information on anyone contributing to the rent, no matter how we decide to split it amongst ourselves (25/25/50) separate apps for all.

What is worrying me now is that when we went to check my boyfriend's credit report the site wouldn't let us in. We have to wait until he gets a verification code via snail mail to access the report. I'm hoping that the issue is just a mistake (like a wrong previous address on file) and not that there was further identity theft that we just never heard about. If his credit is an issue it would come down to me and our friend applying, or getting my father to cosign our lease.

The three of us are chill people, and I'm 100% sure our friend's troubles with previous roommates won't arise with us, as we won't be dating him. Starting off with the background story here probably gave off the wrong impression, its not something I would go blabbing about to potential landlords. I'm pretty sure I won't have issues with my future landlord wanting a lease in writing as
well.

And I just looked on craigs list the guy that said he already had a renter posted the ad again this morning. I'll have our friend that hasn't spoken to him yet call and try to arrange something. That place is perfect, 850 with heat/hot water w/d hookups and within walking distance to my boyfriends job. I may have scared him off with the "boyfriend" thing when he asked about who would be living there.

[MrRational]

Originally Posted by StrandedCT

And I just looked on craigs list the guy that said he already had a renter posted the ad again this morning. I'll have our friend that hasn't spoken to him yet call and try to arrange something. That place is perfect, 850 with heat/hot water w/d hookups and within walking distance to my boyfriends job. I may have scared him off with the "boyfriend" thing when he asked about who would be living there.

Step #1:
$850x3 = $2550 MINIMUM net income consistently and demonstrably achieved to qualify (plus the credit and other issues)
but if the applicant(s) can't pass this first threshold... not much else will matter.

With multiple tenants sharing a space their number should be no greater than the number of bedrooms available.
(I really don't care about being married). Use the 3rd room as a study if two are coupled up.

As to apportioning the money needed, I'll want to see capacity to pay more than their individual share:
with two I'll want to see 75% each; not just 50%
with three I'll want to see 50% each; not just 33%

As a LL the issue isn't what could be if all the stars align...
it's about CYA when you know that they rarely if ever do.

Good luck.