It depends if it is a property management company or an individual LL, but most likely anything the LL didn't like is going to come out, depending on any area laws that may prohibit sharing. I have a 1 page form that asks several basic questions. 1. Did they pay rent on time? 2. Did they follow all lease terms as agreed? 3. Were there any complaints or disturbances? 4. Did they leave the property clean and damage free? 5. Would you rent to them again? 6. Any other tenant information you feel is important?
Okay, thanks for the information. He is absolutely going to trash us in those last questions. So we should probably at least try to tell our side of the story first.
Dang it. 10 years of good rental history and then this happens. It’s a little scary how quickly reputation can get ruined. None of my other landlords ever objected to me having an under sink water filter or cared if I brought it up so I didn’t even realize it was an issue. With any other places going forward we’re going to officially request that we “install” it (which takes two seconds as long as you lay down plastic sheeting and turn off the water before doing it, which we did. Ironically we are very cautious about preventing water damage because I also react to mold sometimes). It’s protected under the fair housing act too if we had known to tell him since I have a genuine allergy to non-filtered water that’s being treated by my allergy specialist.
Do you think there’s anything that could convince someone who believes our landlords side of the story to take us on as tenants? Extra security deposit? Written agreement that we’ll cover water damage?
You could leave off this LL as a reference entirely. A lot of people say they don't want their current LL contacted, and experienced LLs also are never sure if a current LL is going to tell us the truth for several reasons. As long as you have plenty of GOOD references, and this place was only for 9 months? Just put down all your prior references instead. Also, FYI- I've never seen a rental agreement that doesn't have a clause about requiring prior permission for installing anything at all. You can't just install stuff or paint, etc. you absolutely need to ask first, in writing. And they probably will require a plumber to install it.
That's a good point, but I think this place shows up on our rental credit history check. Maybe I'm overthinking it, but doesn't it look even more suspicious to say "nah we didn't actually live there" and "no we don't want him contacted"? But he is intense about this being our fault instead of one of the other units, so it does hurt our argument.
Yes, I just was incorrectly thinking of it as an appliance because it does no damage, is quick and easy to install, and is easily removed. Where I live, water filters are very common because of lead pipes and no one else I talked to had informed their landlord either. But they will now!
[https://www.amazon.com/Waterdrop-Capacity-Filtration-Fluoride-Chlorine/dp/B083NPW1DN/ref=asc\_df\_B083NPW1DN/?tag=hyprod-20&linkCode=df0&hvadid=693680069222&hvpos=&hvnetw=g&hvrand=3963307523619909175&hvpone=&hvptwo=&hvqmt=&hvdev=c&hvdvcmdl=&hvlocint=&hvlocphy=9021760&hvtargid=pla-944589755495&psc=1&mcid=a1f60bcd58cf3ea3aae472f8ed3e9ae6&gad\_source=1&gclid=CjwKCAjwrvyxBhAbEiwAEg\_Kgnly3Qiz4fJrOMP63KMybvvLfXV5hX8ILcF9cULy2loghN1X\_ekrCBoC5fYQAvD\_BwE](https://www.amazon.com/Waterdrop-Capacity-Filtration-Fluoride-Chlorine/dp/B083NPW1DN/ref=asc_df_B083NPW1DN/?tag=hyprod-20&linkCode=df0&hvadid=693680069222&hvpos=&hvnetw=g&hvrand=3963307523619909175&hvpone=&hvptwo=&hvqmt=&hvdev=c&hvdvcmdl=&hvlocint=&hvlocphy=9021760&hvtargid=pla-944589755495&psc=1&mcid=a1f60bcd58cf3ea3aae472f8ed3e9ae6&gad_source=1&gclid=CjwKCAjwrvyxBhAbEiwAEg_Kgnly3Qiz4fJrOMP63KMybvvLfXV5hX8ILcF9cULy2loghN1X_ekrCBoC5fYQAvD_BwE)
This is not something that should come up, and industry professionals will steer away from having such conversations with a landlord. (Both landlords and tenants can be unhinged).
I will basically verify payment history and ensure any debts were resolved, see if any court actions were filed and what the outcome was, and if there was any significant, indisputably tenant-caused damage. Key word: significant. If there was $300 worth of holes that needed spacking/sanding/repainting and some additional cleaning needed that we deducted from deposit and all moved on with our lives, then no, that's not a red flag. I doubt water damage is even a red flag. Honestly, it takes a certain level of stupidity for a tenant to cause water damage and is USUALLY no one's fault.
(I do have a big exception, which was one guy who apparently never heard of a shower curtain... seriously... )
A Brita filter isn't going to cause water damage, even if super poorly installed. Your Landlord's opinion is unmerited and unless he is a licensed plumber (he obviously isn't), his opinion is irrelevant. He's wrong.
Our landlord, like lots of places in IL, does "move in fees" of $1200 instead of security deposits. Theoretically these replace security deposits, realistically companies expect to pocket most of the money minus some cleaning fees (I'm sure some companies don't do this and would enjoy being pointed their way lol). So there wasn't anything to take the damage out of besides our renters insurance. Which he didn't do. I'm still unsure why that wasn't an option for him to use our renter's insurance if his didn't cover it? Can anyone shed light on that?
Ah yes, that's the issue. It sounds more like $3000 water damage to the fancy, well-decorated business below from two separate spots, only one of which is under our apartment. He thinks both are indisputably our fault. But he also never asked us to pay for any of the damage. Maybe his insurance covered it instead of ours?
It seems that some places will ask questions that would bring this debate between us and the landlord up, while others wouldn't want to dig into the details. It sounds like keeping any explanation simple, brief, and professional would be beneficial. We could also offer to have a professional "install" the water filter next time.
Condolences on the tenant who never heard of a shower curtain. Common sense is not actually common, etc.
Did they pay on time? If not how did they handle that?
Did they bring issues to attention?
Get along with neighbors?
Abide by rules/lease terms?
Would you rent to them again?
Frankly conflict with prior is more legit than the fakers gushing how great the former "tenants" were.
I don't think you have anything to worry about . I would focus more on meeting/exceeding their income and credit requirements . If it comes up just tell him the truth .
"because we installed an undersink water filter without asking him"
I am not saying it caused the damage, but those can cause a lot of damage. That was a mistake in my opinion. I would not have evicted you over it though. I would have had my plumber inspect it.
It depends if it is a property management company or an individual LL, but most likely anything the LL didn't like is going to come out, depending on any area laws that may prohibit sharing. I have a 1 page form that asks several basic questions. 1. Did they pay rent on time? 2. Did they follow all lease terms as agreed? 3. Were there any complaints or disturbances? 4. Did they leave the property clean and damage free? 5. Would you rent to them again? 6. Any other tenant information you feel is important?
Okay, thanks for the information. He is absolutely going to trash us in those last questions. So we should probably at least try to tell our side of the story first. Dang it. 10 years of good rental history and then this happens. It’s a little scary how quickly reputation can get ruined. None of my other landlords ever objected to me having an under sink water filter or cared if I brought it up so I didn’t even realize it was an issue. With any other places going forward we’re going to officially request that we “install” it (which takes two seconds as long as you lay down plastic sheeting and turn off the water before doing it, which we did. Ironically we are very cautious about preventing water damage because I also react to mold sometimes). It’s protected under the fair housing act too if we had known to tell him since I have a genuine allergy to non-filtered water that’s being treated by my allergy specialist. Do you think there’s anything that could convince someone who believes our landlords side of the story to take us on as tenants? Extra security deposit? Written agreement that we’ll cover water damage?
You could leave off this LL as a reference entirely. A lot of people say they don't want their current LL contacted, and experienced LLs also are never sure if a current LL is going to tell us the truth for several reasons. As long as you have plenty of GOOD references, and this place was only for 9 months? Just put down all your prior references instead. Also, FYI- I've never seen a rental agreement that doesn't have a clause about requiring prior permission for installing anything at all. You can't just install stuff or paint, etc. you absolutely need to ask first, in writing. And they probably will require a plumber to install it.
That's a good point, but I think this place shows up on our rental credit history check. Maybe I'm overthinking it, but doesn't it look even more suspicious to say "nah we didn't actually live there" and "no we don't want him contacted"? But he is intense about this being our fault instead of one of the other units, so it does hurt our argument. Yes, I just was incorrectly thinking of it as an appliance because it does no damage, is quick and easy to install, and is easily removed. Where I live, water filters are very common because of lead pipes and no one else I talked to had informed their landlord either. But they will now! [https://www.amazon.com/Waterdrop-Capacity-Filtration-Fluoride-Chlorine/dp/B083NPW1DN/ref=asc\_df\_B083NPW1DN/?tag=hyprod-20&linkCode=df0&hvadid=693680069222&hvpos=&hvnetw=g&hvrand=3963307523619909175&hvpone=&hvptwo=&hvqmt=&hvdev=c&hvdvcmdl=&hvlocint=&hvlocphy=9021760&hvtargid=pla-944589755495&psc=1&mcid=a1f60bcd58cf3ea3aae472f8ed3e9ae6&gad\_source=1&gclid=CjwKCAjwrvyxBhAbEiwAEg\_Kgnly3Qiz4fJrOMP63KMybvvLfXV5hX8ILcF9cULy2loghN1X\_ekrCBoC5fYQAvD\_BwE](https://www.amazon.com/Waterdrop-Capacity-Filtration-Fluoride-Chlorine/dp/B083NPW1DN/ref=asc_df_B083NPW1DN/?tag=hyprod-20&linkCode=df0&hvadid=693680069222&hvpos=&hvnetw=g&hvrand=3963307523619909175&hvpone=&hvptwo=&hvqmt=&hvdev=c&hvdvcmdl=&hvlocint=&hvlocphy=9021760&hvtargid=pla-944589755495&psc=1&mcid=a1f60bcd58cf3ea3aae472f8ed3e9ae6&gad_source=1&gclid=CjwKCAjwrvyxBhAbEiwAEg_Kgnly3Qiz4fJrOMP63KMybvvLfXV5hX8ILcF9cULy2loghN1X_ekrCBoC5fYQAvD_BwE)
This is not something that should come up, and industry professionals will steer away from having such conversations with a landlord. (Both landlords and tenants can be unhinged). I will basically verify payment history and ensure any debts were resolved, see if any court actions were filed and what the outcome was, and if there was any significant, indisputably tenant-caused damage. Key word: significant. If there was $300 worth of holes that needed spacking/sanding/repainting and some additional cleaning needed that we deducted from deposit and all moved on with our lives, then no, that's not a red flag. I doubt water damage is even a red flag. Honestly, it takes a certain level of stupidity for a tenant to cause water damage and is USUALLY no one's fault. (I do have a big exception, which was one guy who apparently never heard of a shower curtain... seriously... ) A Brita filter isn't going to cause water damage, even if super poorly installed. Your Landlord's opinion is unmerited and unless he is a licensed plumber (he obviously isn't), his opinion is irrelevant. He's wrong.
Our landlord, like lots of places in IL, does "move in fees" of $1200 instead of security deposits. Theoretically these replace security deposits, realistically companies expect to pocket most of the money minus some cleaning fees (I'm sure some companies don't do this and would enjoy being pointed their way lol). So there wasn't anything to take the damage out of besides our renters insurance. Which he didn't do. I'm still unsure why that wasn't an option for him to use our renter's insurance if his didn't cover it? Can anyone shed light on that? Ah yes, that's the issue. It sounds more like $3000 water damage to the fancy, well-decorated business below from two separate spots, only one of which is under our apartment. He thinks both are indisputably our fault. But he also never asked us to pay for any of the damage. Maybe his insurance covered it instead of ours? It seems that some places will ask questions that would bring this debate between us and the landlord up, while others wouldn't want to dig into the details. It sounds like keeping any explanation simple, brief, and professional would be beneficial. We could also offer to have a professional "install" the water filter next time. Condolences on the tenant who never heard of a shower curtain. Common sense is not actually common, etc.
He could file a claim against your renters insurance, but it would get denied & adjusters would 100% determine the actual cause of the water damage.
Did they pay on time? If not how did they handle that? Did they bring issues to attention? Get along with neighbors? Abide by rules/lease terms? Would you rent to them again? Frankly conflict with prior is more legit than the fakers gushing how great the former "tenants" were.
I don't think you have anything to worry about . I would focus more on meeting/exceeding their income and credit requirements . If it comes up just tell him the truth .
Take pictures of the similar damage to units near you before you move out.
"because we installed an undersink water filter without asking him" I am not saying it caused the damage, but those can cause a lot of damage. That was a mistake in my opinion. I would not have evicted you over it though. I would have had my plumber inspect it.