March 17, 2008

Rent Controlled

Posted by Tomas Palermo at 6:35AM

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Are you fresh out of high school or almost done with college and renting your first solo crib, dive, flat or apartment while working two jobs and trying to have a social life? Yeah, I was there too -- young, poor, and a little naive about how to be independent and rent secure. I began thinking about my early renter life recently after a friend's next-door neighbor, a young art student, was kicked out of the building after only three months for negligent, derelict and completely preventable behavior. Having band practice in your apartment at 1 a.m.? That's sooo not a good plan. It made me wonder though, was I a "terrible tenant" in my 20s?

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My first apartment was a charming beige stucco number, tucked into the asphalt armpit between LAX airport and the 405 freeway in Los Angeles. The building was at the far end of a dreary block, devoid of streetlights, with dangerous allies in front and back of the four-unit space. Our scenery included a resplendent view of the neon-lit Nude Nudes strip joint. My roommates at the time did a lot of drugs and kept a rabbit indoors as their pet. It was definitely not the cleanest place, just a space to lay my head after work, DJing and college classwork. I left after a few months as my roommates' behavior became more bizarre. They were eventually evicted.

So what's the best way to not get kicked out of your first apartment? Here's a few common sense tips that might make the difference between couch surfing and starting out life with a reliable roof over your head and your credit rating intact.

Be a good neighbor. A good neighbor turns the sound down after 10 p.m., especially TV, DVD and audio players. Better yet, use your headphones. A good neighbor says "hi" to their fellow neighbors, even the grumpy ones. A good neighbor makes sure the front gate is locked, and keeps an eye out for sketchy people. A good neighbor takes the garbage and compost bins out at least once a week so stink, maggots and mice don't migrate to other apartments.

Don't smoke inside. If you're a puffer of any kind (or, heh-heh, any kind...), light up outside . That smoke stench not only stays in your carpet and walls, but also poisons the human being next door too. Odors and carcinogens know no boundaries. Plus, duh, fire hazard!

Watch your electrical cords and candles. Make sure your electrical outlets are grounded. Don't shove a three prong cord in a two-prong outlet. Better yet, buys a surge protected electrical strip, especially for high wattage items like heaters, flat-screens, computers and kitchen appliances. Ever blown your building's circuit breakers with a hair dryer? I have. Make sure your electrical cords and cables don't look like Rob Zombie's dreads -- organize them with a twist-tie or cord protector so no one trips, literally. Candles may get your special someone in the mood, but they're too easy to forget about, leaving them to burn down, explode in the glass holder etc. Candles and incense are better kept in the temple than by your bed.

Pay rent on time, and schedule it on a calendar. If you have roommates and you're the leaseholder, put up a visible calendar with the days you need to collect rent by in order to have it to your landlord on time. If you are someone's roommate, don't stress them out by only paying half your rent, or making excuses why you're late with it. Start saving two weeks before rent is due, and plan ahead. You'll be king or queen of the place if you pay your rent early. I recommend setting up electronic reminders in your cell phone, Sidekick, iCal or Entourage program alerting you that rent will be coming due soon.

Do a basic cleanup once a month. You'd be surprised how hard it is to clean grunge and grime off walls, surfaces, carpets, floors and tubs the longer you let it sit and fester. Pool your money with roommates or save your tips and go to the hardware store, get a small vacuum to handle little spills, some bleach or Simple Green to clean surfaces, and then set up a schedule to have a two-hour cleaning party once a month. Play your music, dance, clean and converse -- it can be fun. Have a "shoes off in common areas" policy to prevent dirt from accumulating in the first place.

"No pets" means no pets. A lizard is a pet. A snake, fish, crickets, bird, or other small caged animal are all pets. No matter how cute the beast, they're a liability if your lease says "no pets." Show your landlord respect and maybe they'll fix the shower quicker when it breaks. Also, a lot of animals can't handle cramped indoor apartments, temperature fluctuations, noise or getting ashed-on by careless smokers.

Have a witness and document problems. Pipes burst, ovens go haywire, fire alarms need new batteries, sinks clog and roofs leak. So what's your plan when you need help? Landlords are not known for being the most responsive types when something goes wrong, so commit to documenting the day, time, location and nature of your problem and get a neighbor or friend to witness your documentation. That way you have proof when you ask for something to be fixed. Covering your back when something breaks and it's not your fault is crucial to protecting your renter's rights.

Your spot is not the party spot. Sure it's exciting having your own first apartment, but it can also be lonely and isolating. It's natural to wanna have friends over, or even host your own gathering -- spread the love, right? Think twice about hosting parties with more than a handful of people if you don't want things to get out of hand. Nothing worse than the smelly, drunk guy passed out on your favorite couch at 3 a.m., or a girl wretching her guts up in your sink. The more people get used to your spot, the more chance it might become their only social outlet. Then, like the aforementioned art student, you might be facing eviction just when the fun started.

Sure, a lot of this is common sense stuff, or even things your parents made you do at home. But now it's your home. There's no satisfaction in rebelling against home rules if it makes you homeless. Plus if your name is on a lease, that's a permanent document and you'll live with the consequences (especially renting you next place) long after.

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