A rental blacklist
Here's a story that both landlords and renters will want to read: Liz Kay reports today about DoNotRentTo.com, a Web site that "that compiles information about problem tenants." It's an effort by property owners to avoid renting to people who cause thousands of dollars in damage or other expensive problems that don't necessarily show up with credit and reference checks.
Consumer and privacy advocates note the downside for renters: They could unfairly end up on the list. If you want to find out if you're on it, you'll have to pay the $14.99 annual membership.
So, landlords and renters: What do you think? And what sort of research do you do to make sure you've picked a good renter for your property or a good property to rent?
Comments
Can I put my neighbors on the list? No one should ever rent to them. Noise, drugs, dog feces in my yard. The list goes on an on.
Posted by: Annoyed | March 3, 2008 2:58 PM
hi how do you find out if you have been blacklisted or not? thanx
Posted by: crystal | April 30, 2008 6:03 AM
Hi, Crystal -- if you've been turned down for a rental, you should ask why. But the only way to search the list directly is to join (which you can do, if you're willing to pay the membership fee).
When the story ran, there were only about 25 Maryland tenants on the list, by the way.
Posted by: Jamie Smith Hopkins | April 30, 2008 7:37 AM
i want to know if iam blacklisted but if i pay this money what do i get out of it after i find out as it is annual membership
Posted by: kirsten | August 30, 2009 6:59 AM
renters: if you have anything questionable (let alone outright negative) in your renting or credit past then the best thing you can do is limit your looking to landlords who don't have enough sense to insist on an application and credit check or at least if they ask for those things who then don't bother to actually check you out.
A responsible landlord will ask your prior Landlord "Is there anything you can tell me about kristin"?
And the MOST important question of all: "would you rent to crystal again"?
Posted by: MrRational | August 30, 2009 6:31 PM