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I recently viewed an apt. With my mom. We loved the place but when reviewing the application we were appalled by some of the personal financial questions and wondered why they would need to know the following things? Student loans and amount paid towards that? 401k accounts? Amounts of our bank accounts. Three prior addresses. Three prior employment s. Credit card balance and payment amounts. If I have ever been served a late rent notice. If I have Eve been arrested for anything. Have I filed bankruptcy? Have I had a foreclosure of anything. I feel pretty violated disclosing amounts like that. Which of these questions do I have to answer?
You truly wonder why they need to know about your history as a tenant?
You truly wonder why they need to know about what other obligations you have each month?
You truly wonder why they need to know about a criminal history or financial responsibility?
No landlord wants a deadbeat tenant.
If the current landlord was glad to "get rid of" the tenant, he/she might well give a glowing reference to accomplish that. Prior landlords have nothing to gain and will likely not hold back.
Income alone doesn't show an individuals true ability to pay. If the applicant has a lot of outstanding debt/obligations, timely and regular rent payments could be in doubt.
Lack of financial/social responsibility can be an indication of possible future difficulties.
I recently viewed an apt. With my mom. We loved the place but when reviewing the application we were appalled by some of the personal financial questions and wondered why they would need to know the following things? Student loans and amount paid towards that? 401k accounts? Amounts of our bank accounts. Three prior addresses. Three prior employment s. Credit card balance and payment amounts. If I have ever been served a late rent notice. If I have Eve been arrested for anything. Have I filed bankruptcy? Have I had a foreclosure of anything. I feel pretty violated disclosing amounts like that. Which of these questions do I have to answer?
Go buy a house and apply for a mortgage...
Or save and pay cash and you don't have to answer the questions but the money needs to be in an account and be wired otherwise you can only buy a house under $10k for cash or you get questions.
You can search for a place with less questions but when a credit report comes back most of the answers will be on there anyway.
You have to thank all the bad tenants.
I just had another "winner" move out that may start a thread about whining to loose out of their entire deposit but probably failing to say what a pig they are.
It will all be fixed and rented to someone else who will fill out lots of questions.
This tenant was one we inherited when we took over management 2 years ago....
I recently viewed an apt. With my mom. We loved the place but when reviewing the application we were appalled by some of the personal financial questions and wondered why they would need to know the following things? Student loans and amount paid towards that? 401k accounts? Amounts of our bank accounts. Three prior addresses. Three prior employment s. Credit card balance and payment amounts. If I have ever been served a late rent notice. If I have Eve been arrested for anything. Have I filed bankruptcy? Have I had a foreclosure of anything. I feel pretty violated disclosing amounts like that. Which of these questions do I have to answer?
The only questions I would have a problem with on there are the 401k one, and the one about the amount in my bank account. I would only expect to answer those two questions (and provide proof) if I didn't have verifiable income.
Everything else is going to show up either on the background check or credit check.
It is what the landlord wants to know. You don't have to tell them and they don't have to rent to you. If you think those questions are bad, try applying for a mortgage. They go much deeper.
Easy solution: if you don't like the application, don't apply. Look for something else where the application isn't so detailed. There isn't anything there that the landlord can not ask of prospective tenants.
You are expecting the landlord to turn over control of a very valuable asset to you. He is going to want to see proof that you can pay what is owed and that you are going to take good care of the property.
If you buy, you'll be answering questions a lot more personal than that.
I recently viewed an apt. With my mom. We loved the place but when reviewing the application we were appalled by some of the personal financial questions and wondered why they would need to know the following things? Student loans and amount paid towards that? 401k accounts? Amounts of our bank accounts. Three prior addresses. Three prior employment s. Credit card balance and payment amounts. If I have ever been served a late rent notice. If I have Eve been arrested for anything. Have I filed bankruptcy? Have I had a foreclosure of anything. I feel pretty violated disclosing amounts like that. Which of these questions do I have to answer?
You are not required to answer any questions you don't want to. But they are not required to rent to you. If I get applications with missing info I just reject them. The reason I need that info is because I want to make sure you can pay the rent and won't have issues. You don't want to release the info? Well I can't make a decision without it
Last edited by Electrician4you; 08-27-2014 at 04:38 PM..
Ha! If they think rental applications are invasive, just wait until they have to apply for a mortgage!
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