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Posts Tagged ‘Rentals’

What To Be Aware Of If Subletting Your Apartment

April 23rd, 2011 No comments

Whether you need some extra income or are going away on an extended business trip or family vacation, you may want to consider subletting your apartment or home. Even if you only have an extra room, subletting is a great way to make some income and keep someone using your property or extra space.

If you have leased a place and need to move out before the lease expires, then subletting can be a solution. The landlord must agree, and if he does, the new tenant occupies the house until your lease expires. You therefore should not have any issues with early termination of the contract.

Subletting while you are away is a very attractive way to get regular monthly income. This does not mean that it will be easy. You will have new burdens and will also have to be very careful to whom you rent to.

Before putting pushing with the subletting, remember to ask for the landlord’s consent to ensure that you are not breaking any agreement in your leasing contract. This step is to avoid any potential arguments or legal actions in the future with your landlord.

Prior to putting up the rent sign for the public, ask friends, relatives, workmates, or anyone relatively reliable for referrals or if they would like to share your unit with you. This is much more safe than having a complete stranger live with you in your house. Also, the entire process will be much smoother and comfortable with someone you already know beforehand.

If you find a potential renter that you do not know personally it is advisable to run a background check on them. You should also ask for references and contact previous landlords to see what kind of tenant they were.

Determine a monthly figure that will be paid as rent and make sure that the security deposit component is agreed on too. Come to a clear agreement on pets, utilities (phone, water, and electricity), personal habits (alcohol, tobacco), payment for groceries etc., and make sure everything is in writing.

The agreement that you come to must be mutually acceptable and remember to get the signature of your new tenant. As an additional precaution, try to introduce and get the approval of your landlord too.

The writer has been publishing commentary on property rentals for the past three years. In addition, this writer enjoys providing knowledge with respect to NYC real estate topics, like Tudor City apartment rentals and Inwood homes.

The Significance Of Good Credit When In The Market For A Rental

April 19th, 2011 No comments

To avoid problem tenants, most landlord and owners have included doing credit checks on prospective tenants as part of the application process. This is a precautionary action done on the owner’s and landlord’s part to ensure that the individual has a good credit history and will have no problem in paying the rent due in time.

Applicants will be asked to provide details such as their employment status, income and references such as previous landlords. Credit scores will also be cross examined to verify the individual’s capability to pay.

All other things being equal, a prospective tenant with a high credit rating will enjoy faster approval of his application compared to a prospective tenant with a bad credit rating. In fact, a bad credit rating may even be used as basis for denial of a prospective tenant’s application. However, there may be landlords who might accept a tenant with a bad credit rating provided that the tenant pays a higher deposit fee.

As a potential tenant, you will want to ensure that your credit score is as high as possible and that you have checked your credit report for any issues or discrepancies. You will want at least six months to clean up your credit report and pay down balances before searching for an apartment or house to rent.

However, the situation is not entirely hopeless for those with low credit scores. People with low credit scores may still be able to rent an apartment if they look at the right places. While most landlords are prudent enough to do a credit check, there are still landlords out there who refuse to do so. For the most part, these landlords are only concerned with the security deposit.

Another way for a person with bad credit to rent a home is to have a co-signer with a good credit record to sign the leasing agreement with him. You can ask a parent, a friend or anybody you trust and who trusts you.

For people with low credit scores however, getting a co-signor or finding a landlord who will overlook a tenant’s credit rating should not be an excuse to neglect their individual credit rating. In this regard, the importance of having a good credit score cannot be overemphasized.

Either way, remember that landlords and owners only do this kind of background check not as an invasion of privacy but for their security. So try to fix your credit scores as much as you can to enjoy privileges such as better financing terms and fast approval of loans.

The writer has been blogging on credit reports for the past two years. Moreover, this writer is fond of publishing articles regarding New York City neighborhoods, including Upper West Side apartments along with Chelsea real estate.

Searching For An Affordable Apartment For Rent – Information To Keep In Mind

March 19th, 2011 No comments

The most important factor that affects an apartment price is its location. Apartments considered cheap in well-developed cities like New York are pretty costly to many. Usually, you can expect such high prices in developed markets.

If you are in need of a cheap apartment you will want to avoid areas that are popular and go for something further from the city, away from the amenities that everyone wants to live near.

Most people look for cheap apartments because they need to stay within a certain price range. If you budget only allows for a cheaper apartment, another way to get a lower price is to downsize your needs. If you are single you might want to consider a studio apartment rather than a one-bedroom and if you are a family, you can consider the smallest number of bedrooms you will need to be comfortable.

Expect well designed buildings to be expensive. Usually, newly constructed buildings and Victorian style houses are high priced. So look for things that aren’t too trendy, for example a simple one room apartment or alcove studio.

When looking for a new apartment, it is always good to get the word out. Ask around and see if anyone knows of a good, reasonably priced apartment for rent. Someone may have a rental available or even be in need of a roommate. These options can end up being a real cost-savings move.

You can also search online. Most online apartment search tools offer a price range option where you can input your monthly budget for unit rental rates. Try websites such as padmapper.com, craigslist.org or myapartment.com.

Paying the rent months in advance would allow you to negotiate a reduction in rent with the owner. Landlords would not want to turn down an offer of receiving a huge sum up front for a discount.

And no matter what you find online, do not rent an apartment you haven’t physically seen. No matter what the price is, you need to see what you are renting before agreeing. No deal is good if it isn’t what will meet your needs.

This individual has been providing advice pertaining to finding cheap apartments for the last three years. Furthermore, this individual is fond of blogging regarding NYC real estate subjects, such as Flatiron apartments in addition to Carnegie Hill properties.

Making A Decision Between Short-Term And Long-Term Leases – Which One Is The Right Choice For You?

July 26th, 2010 No comments

Instead of purchasing a home, some people have a preference to lease or rent an apartment. When this is the case, they need to decide whether to obtain a long-term or short-term lease.

The short-term lease generally covers rental arrangements that last for less than twelve months. Other short-term arrangements focused on more transient tenants will be on a month by month basis that instantly renews unless notice is given, in which case the tenant has to pay an extra month when they leave if they do not give 30 days’ written notice.

If your job requires constant relocation of residency, a short-term lease would be best. It allows for flexibility and enables people to move to new locations when desired.

Short-term leases do have their benefits, but there is a disadvantage as well. This disadvantage includes higher rent as well as when the lease needs to be renewed, the landlord can decide not to renew it.

A long-term lease on residential property on the other hand usually ranges for one year or longer. People who want more value for their money usually go for this option.

By taking one of these leases, you get more permanence, a secure home, cheaper rental, and a guarantee. Also, it means that you are able to build a better professional relationship with your property owner, as you will get to know each other.

Just like short-term leasing, long-term leasing has disadvantages as well. If you need to move suddenly, there is no flexibility to move when you’re in a long-term lease agreement. If you have to break lease agreements, it will be quite costly for you, the tenant.

With each of their own sets of pros and cons, it is advisable to choose the arrangement that will fit one’s lifestyle and plans for the next year or two. Another option is to go for the long-term but negotiate for a favorable early release clause.

This individual has been contributing articles on home-related issues for the last three years. Moreover, the author loves writing regarding New York neighborhoods, including NoHo apartment in addition to Flatiron apartments.

Information To Be Aware Of When Requiring A Credit Check On Prospective Tenants

July 15th, 2010 No comments

When you decide to rent, be aware that credit checks are standard nowadays. Credit checks consist of the landlord calling previous landlords where you have rented, or calling your employer to find out about your employment history. A landlord may hire an agency to run a credit check on you.

Credit checks help landlords to find the perfect renter. It helps them weed out those who may cause issues down the road. A credit check helps minimize any potential risk that may form.

When you rent, you need to disclose certain information in order to perform a credit check. Often this includes full name, date of birth, current address, and social security number.

When performing a credit check, the landlord has to inform the prospective tenant that it is going to be done. Usually, it is disclosed on the application with an area where the prospective tenant will sign as indication of consent to the credit check.

The consent form for the credit check can be found on the application, or as a separate release form. Either way, the applicant needs to be aware of the credit check and needs to sign the consent form indicating they are aware of the credit check.

Quite frequently, due to time constraints, most property owners will hire a specialist company to do the check. This can be costly, and often the property owner will pass this cost on to the potential tenant.

The agencies that provide credit check services either charge per report or require a membership fee that covers everything. Aside from the standard credit report, these agencies look into and provide employment history, criminal history, rental payment history, evictions, bankruptcies, and other relevant information.

To comply with the Fair Credit Reporting Act, landlords must inform applicants in writing if they fail to meet eligibility requirements to rent the property. They don’t need to disclose the exact reason for rejection as long as it is stated that the decision was made as a result of the credit check.

The individual has been providing advice with respect to personal finance for the last two years. Moreover, this author takes pleasure in writing with respect to NYC real estate, like Chinatown rentals as well as Lincoln Center apartments.

The Benefits And Drawbacks Of Long And Short-Term Leases

July 5th, 2010 No comments

Often when you are looking at house to rent you will have to decide between a short and a long-term lease. Naturally, both have their good points and both have their downsides, so it is important that you keep these all in mind before you sign.

With a short-term lease, you are not forced into any specific agreements for a long duration of time. This means there is some freedom in it; however, you have to pay a much higher rent bill.

This means you might end up paying more than you would if you had chosen a long-term lease. The landlord can also raise the rent more frequently, as there is not as long of a wait between leasing agreements.

Landlords also have the freedom to evict someone much easier if you are using a short-term lease. Freedom for the renter may sound wonderful, but in the end, the landlord has just as much freedom – if not more.

In terms of long-term leases, these are usually more stable and common amongst the renter-landlord relationship. The cost of rent is usually significantly lower than short-term leases, so you will be saving money.

Many renters find it easier to budget with a long-term lease arrangement. This is because the landlord does not have the freedom of increasing the rent as frequently. There isn’t much flexibility, but long-term leases are much more stable and promote a mutual respect for each party.

Landlords can save money when renting on a long-term basis, due to a lower turnover rate, fewer vacancy periods, less of a need to advertise, and less wear and tear on the rental unit. As such, they are generally willing to pass the savings along to the renter through lower rental rates.

Regardless of whether you enter into a long-term or short term leasing agreement, you should have the agreement formalized by signing a written rental agreement. This agreement should state the obligations of both the renter and the landlord, and should describe the terms and conditions of the agreement in detail.

The writer has been publishing commentary on home-related issues for the past four years. Additionally, this author is fond of writing with respect to real estate professionals, like Ilan Rosenthal and other individuals.

Preparing For A Credit Check – Things To Bear In Mind When Renting Real Estate

June 24th, 2010 No comments

In current times, it has become the norm for landlords to demand credit checks even when you are just looking to rent rather than buy. This is to give them a sense of security with regard to your ability to pay on time.

A potential renter will be asked to provide information such as their income and references, but in many cases their credit score will also be cross checked as part of the process. For a person who has bad credit, looking for real estate rentals can sometimes be very difficult.

A landlord is surely not going to accept an application from someone with a poor credit score. Even if they do, the deposit will be so astronomical that it may not even be worth it in the end.

If you fall into this poor credit category, you should do everything in your power to fix it. By correcting the issues that are wrong with your credit score before filling out an application form, you will have a much higher chance of getting accepted. If you would like to accomplish this, there are a few tips and companies you should use.

Before even attempting to rent, you should take a serious assessment of your credit history and rating. This may just shed more light on your situation, and give you a grasp of how much time you need to fix it.

It pays to enquire about your credit because sometimes it is wrong, as this is an area where mistakes occur regularly. You need to do a thorough check and make sure everything is correct before you apply for any properties.

Naturally, some people do not do credit checks. Therefore if you have really bad credit that is beyond redemption then you should look out for this folk. Also, if you have had poor credit before but have rectified it then you can just explain to them what happened and show them you are now on the level.

Alternatively, you can have someone else who has good credit as a co-signatory on your lease. This will make the process so much easier for those with bad credit.

This individual has been providing advice about credit scores for the last four years. Additionally, this individual loves providing knowledge regarding New York City real estate topics, including Carnegie Hill apartments in addition to NoLita apartments.