You need to be careful. There are lots of laws regarding what you can ask, and SF has their own set, as do several of the other communities. They also have strict rental laws, you may never be able to get people out of your house there. Read those laws carefully before you do anything.
You can ask for a credit report and do a criminal check yourself.
If the credit or background are questionable, PASS. Do not rent to them. Everyone with bad credit EARNED it and people do not change. Do not believe the sob stories you will hear. You will end up with a freak in your house and you will not be able to get them out.I am thiniking of renting a room and bath in SF bay area. I s there a way to screen roomates?
Sure. Get a rental application form that is geared to your city and have them fill it out and run a full credit/criminal background check on them with a credit verification service.
Since it is a roommate and not a formal tenant in a stand-alone apartment you can go a bit further. And a wise person does. Other things to consider...
Food habits - What if you are a vegan and the roomie eats steak every night?
Sleeping habits/work schedule - If you need quiet in the night and he is a night-owl that works the graveyard shift.
Social habits - What if you are a free-thinking sexual anarchist and the roomie is a bible-thumping judgemental person?
Musical tastes - If you are a head-banging Ozzie fan and the roomie is a hard-core folkie?
Cleaning habits - Can anyone say Oscar and Felix?
Plus, be sure there are clear, enforcable house rules that both parties work out and adhere to.I am thiniking of renting a room and bath in SF bay area. I s there a way to screen roomates?
Use a service like a rental service or I think there is a roommate service in the bay area so you don't' find a person you can't live with, in SF that could be difficult they are all a bit weird. Try this site:
http://www.bayareabackgrounds.com/tenant鈥?/a>
Subscribe to:
Post Comments (Atom)
No comments:
Post a Comment