Padzilla Blog: Tenant Tips for Living Large and More

If getting paid is your apartment owner’s top priority, a close second is a peaceful building.

KEEP THE PEACE AT ALL TIMES!

Creating a disturbance, holding loud parties, and, especially bothering (or threatening) any other tenant, are about the fastest way to irritate your owner. Owners want the occupants to get along quietly and peacefully.

Owners absolutely hate disturbances, fights, visits by the police, etc. An adjunct of this is never, ever, conduct any illegal activity at your apartment or from your apartment. It is a guaranteed way to get evicted should the details emerge.

Remember if you signed a lease, it likely contains a peaceful use clause. That means you promised to live quietly with your neighbors, at all times.

The fact that your buddy is just in from California, and it’s the weekend, and you’ve got this new killer stereo, and the latest Lady GAGA CD, is not sufficient warrant to breach the quiet use condition.

In other words, a disturbance of others by you is most likely a BREACH OF YOUR LEASE. Cause enough problems, particularly with other tenants, and your owner will file for an eviction.

As an attorney, I know and can assure you Courts have little sympathy for troublemakers. Worse, you’ll end up spending money on lawyers. Trust me; there are better, smarter ways to spend your time and money.

If you want to LIVE LARGE, and who doesn’t, then getting there requires keeping calm, cool, quiet and collected…

Tim Murphy
Padzilla.Com

OK, so you know that timely payment is key #1. But what do you do if you cannot pay… honestly, cannot pay.

Key #3. Owner-managers want folks to pay on time, but sometimes that is impossible. If it is impossible, tell the owner why.

NEVER EVER LIE. TELL THE REAL REASON.

That will get you some time as almost all the manager-owners I know will have some limited patience/flexibility. But, here is the deal if you need to do this. Landlords do not want to be abused.

Follow this plan: First, pay something. Do not or expect to pay ZERO. Even if its 50% of the rent, or 33% of that month’s rent, pay something! Most important, set up a plan with your Owner that you can meet, a plan that shows how the next month gets paid, and how the arrearage gets paid.

KEY #3.1 faithfully follow the plan. Do everything in your power to catch up.

Do not buy a big screen TV, or go on a Carnival Cruise, while you are asking your Owner to take a hit! That’s called: BAD FAITH. It s breach of the trust your owner has extended by the late payment agreement.

If you get extra funds, and can catch up, quickly pay them to the owner. All this can play to your ADVANTAGE. If you follow through as promised, and you catch up, your Owner will gain RESPECT for you.

Everyone has lean times, it’s how you act and treat people that wins or loses points. LIVING LARGE, in other words, depends on acting in good faith.

Tim Murphy
Padzilla.Com

Even renting an apartment

Last time I suggested that a good rental history is like a good credit report. It can help you a good deal. The flip is also true; a bad rental history can make it very difficult to secure your next great pad.

Key #2. As a renter, you need to know that many property owners and managers here in Maine report your rental history to firms like Tenant-Net. I’ve attached a sample report for you to look at. PDF HERE.

So, that’s why I noted that paying on time is the very first key. Your payment patterns/history gets reported to firms like Tenant-Net. Just like credit, a good payment history helps you, and bad payment history hurts you. In other words, actions have consequences.

But, you can make all this work for you to your advantage. If you have a great payment history, insist that your Owner report that fact to firms like Tenant-Net. A solid payment history tells the next owner you:

CAN BE TRUSTED!

It costs a property owner ZERO to report your good rental history to Tenant-Net. In fact, we give them an actual credit. So, if you have a good history, insist your owner-manager report it.

Tim Murphy
Owner, Tenant-Net Inc

Tenant Tips: HOW TO LIVE LARGE

Being a great tenant is like having great credit…it just makes life easier!

How do I know this… because my company Tenant-Net helps property owners and managers here in Maine. I’ve got a pretty good idea how these folks think, what they like, and what they don’t like.

In short, I can help you LIVE LARGE!

Key #1. Pay your rent on time.

Few things cause more frustration for owners than late payments, having to pester or chase their tenants “for the rent”.

Make their life easy, pay on time, and you’ll build political goodwill/capital each month. If you are going to be late, always, always let the owner know in advance. Explain, never ever lie, and then pay as promptly as possible.

In other words, do not tell them you will be late, but then have UPS deliver your new big screen LCD TV!

Remember, they have a mortgage payment to meet, and their payment depends upon yours. And, their bank does not tolerate late payments. So, your being late causes the Owner tremendous stress.

Believe it or not, most property owners are not millionaires. They work and struggle to pay their bills just like you! So, make their life easy, and they’ll love you for it!

It’s like building great credit. It helps down the road when you need your next apartment.

Tim Murphy
Padzilla.Com

Webster’s (the Dictionary) defines LIVING LARGE as having easy access to superior goods and services like a really sweet apartment.