Doing Your Homework on Potential Landlords

3) Visit Apartment Ratings.com (www.apartmentratings.com). This site allows renters to post comments about their experiences with apartment communities. You can read both positive and negative comments from past and present renters. Read the comments on the site, but use your best judgment.

4) Contact the Better Business Bureau, www.bbb.org for a report on a prospective landlord. This report will tell you if any issues have been reported to the Bureau, and if so, what those issues were about (e.g., customer service, billing, advertising claims, etc.) and if they were resolved. The reports are free.

5) Ask the manager what qualifications he or she has in the apartment management industry. For instance, how long have they been managing apartments? Do they have a real estate license or pursued any kind of study in apartment management? Having a license indicates that the landlord has undergone a course of study in real estate and understands the various housing laws governing the industry.

Likewise, does the landlord belong to any professional associations, such as the National Apartment Association? As a member of a professional association, the landlord is required to follow a code of ethics governing their industry. In addition, the landlord can maintain their expertise by participating in continuing education programs. Whatever education or qualifications they possess indicates their dedication to their professional development and their desire to best serve the needs and interests of their residents.

For the most part, landlords do a pretty good job of providing quality housing. It's the few apartment landlords who don't that can upset your quiet, comfortable existence. Before you sign any lease agreement, take time to check out your future landlord. You just may save yourself a few headaches in the long term.

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