Heartless Landlords in Columbia (Mexico, California: rental, bad credit, student loans)

[supermom0675]

Landlords today have no heart, it’s all business and no compassion for the tenant or future tenants they may have. Here is my story:
Last year I moved from Columbia MO to Southern California where I grew up after a long ordeal with the local school district with how they were dealing with my autistic/deaf son and a separation from my husband. After settling into my new home I realized I could not afford to live here, so I turned back to the area I once hated realizing that there is so much to Columbia that I didn't see until I left and came back to California. The people, the land, and more or less, the schools are not as bad as I might have thought. So in December I decided to move back. I couldn't believe how easy it was to obtain employment but how impossible it was to find a landlord to rent to me. Like many others, I made some bad discussions when it comes to my credit. This means I have a horrible credit score. I have a job but no place to live. Why is it that people judge you over a credit score, not if you’re a hard worker or a good person? Every landlord I have encountered thus far has snubbed me off like I was a criminal, which I am not and never have been. I'm a great mom to three beautiful children, hard worker and just want someone to give me a chance. Getting back on your feet can be a difficult task, no matter what your situation.

Are all landlords in Columbia heartless? For me, all I can say is yes. Compassion, faith and trust is no longer a trait that people hold. I thought people were different in Missouri but when I can find more trusting people in California it makes me wonder if living on the streets of Cali is better then moving back. My only option as of now is to move back and live in a motel until I can find a landlord that can trust me.

Thank you for letting me vent, I have just been so frustrated this past month and had to let it out.

[Disco Inferno]

I can answer the credit score question. They want to make sure that you can pay them, and pay them on time. I live in New Mexico, and they do the same thing here. It's not a Columbia, MO thing either.

[nmnita]

Originally Posted by supermom0675

Landlords today have no heart, it’s all business and no compassion for the tenant or future tenants they may have. Here is my story:
Last year I moved from Columbia MO to Southern California where I grew up after a long ordeal with the local school district with how they were dealing with my autistic/deaf son and a separation from my husband. After settling into my new home I realized I could not afford to live here, so I turned back to the area I once hated realizing that there is so much to Columbia that I didn't see until I left and came back to California. The people, the land, and more or less, the schools are not as bad as I might have thought. So in December I decided to move back. I couldn't believe how easy it was to obtain employment but how impossible it was to find a landlord to rent to me. Like many others, I made some bad discussions when it comes to my credit. This means I have a horrible credit score. I have a job but no place to live. Why is it that people judge you over a credit score, not if you’re a hard worker or a good person? Every landlord I have encountered thus far has snubbed me off like I was a criminal, which I am not and never have been. I'm a great mom to three beautiful children, hard worker and just want someone to give me a chance. Getting back on your feet can be a difficult task, no matter what your situation.

Are all landlords in Columbia heartless? For me, all I can say is yes. Compassion, faith and trust is no longer a trait that people hold. I thought people were different in Missouri but when I can find more trusting people in California it makes me wonder if living on the streets of Cali is better then moving back. My only option as of now is to move back and live in a motel until I can find a landlord that can trust me.

Thank you for letting me vent, I have just been so frustrated this past month and had to let it out.

you are right about 1 thing: it is business, business, business and if I were a landlord I would be the same way. What guarantee does he/she have you will pay your rent on time. You have shouwn, in the past, you do not always use good judgement. Have you approached the situation offering to give them 3 months rent in advance? That normally will impress someone to give you a chance.

it is easy to understand your frustration but it is just as easy to understand the landlord. I hope you will soon find a place, no, moving to Ca and living on the streets certainly is not fair to your 3 kids. Don't even consider it..Does their father contribute to their support? If not, I would suggest you go after him....

Nita

[marigolds6]

Credit score should not matter that much in Columbia. Students have bad credit scores. Sounds like you have something bad on your tenant history; e.g. missed rental payments or a bad rent check.

You can make a written request to the landlord request the exact reason why you were denied. They have to give you the name, address, and phone number for all credit agencies (including tenant check agencies) they used to reach that decision. You might find inaccurate information is holding you back.

[aragx6]

Students almost always have to have their parents cosign, at least for their first place, marigolds. I know me and all my friends did.

[nmnita]

Originally Posted by marigolds6

Credit score should not matter that much in Columbia. Students have bad credit scores. Sounds like you have something bad on your tenant history; e.g. missed rental payments or a bad rent check.

You can make a written request to the landlord request the exact reason why you were denied. They have to give you the name, address, and phone number for all credit agencies (including tenant check agencies) they used to reach that decision. You might find inaccurate information is holding you back.

Normally speaking parents are responsible for students room and board unless the kids are in grad school or much older. BTW, I don't know many kids in college who have really bad credit scores. At least my grandkids and their friends do not. Add to that, the units that are normally rented to students might be totally different from what the OP is hoping to find, different location, differnet amenties, etc.

Nita

[aragx6]

Originally Posted by nmnita

Normally speaking parents are responsible for students room and board unless the kids are in grad school or much older. BTW, I don't know many kids in college who have really bad credit scores. At least my grandkids and their friends do not. Add to that, the units that are normally rented to students might be totally different from what the OP is hoping to find, different location, differnet amenties, etc.

Nita

Ha! I wish. Me and most of my friends weren't so lucky. I lived on student loans and the $6 an hour I made from my on-campus job. But my parents were willing to cosign at least.

[Curmudgeon]

For the OP, perhaps you can find an independent property owner who would be willing to rent to you. Most of the "heartless" ones are rental/property management agencies with contractual limitations when it comes to selecting tenants.

[lifelongMOgal]

Yeah, imagine a landlord preferring staying in business by renting to people with creditworthiness who do not have a history of breaking rental contracts. Are they heartless, no; good businessmen/women, yes.

[nmnita]

notice OP never came back to comment. She has posted twice, once in 2008 saying she just moved to MO from Ca and now posts she just moved from CA to Mo last year.It appears she moves from one place to the other every year or so. I think there is something that just doesn't add up here. Regardless good luck to her, hope she finds suitable housing, gets her life in order and can find a good education for her children.

Nita