ABA Family Legal Guide

Renting Residential Property

Renting Basics

Choosing a Landlord

Does the negotiation process give the prospective tenant some indications of whether the landlord will keep his or her promises?

Yes. Look for landlords who will put their promises in writing. There are winners and losers in the landlord derby. In first place are landlords who mean what they say and will back it up. They will agree to put promises in writing. They will agree to make repairs and specify when they will make them. They are clearly landlords acting in good faith.

In second place are the landlords who make oral promises to get you to rent from them, but won't put the promises in writing.

In last place are the landlords who will not even make any promises to get you to rent. They have no word to trust. You should rent elsewhere.