Section Two: Finding a Place to Live
WHERE TO LOOK
There are many ways of finding apartments, condominiums, rooms, or houses to rent. The process of searching for housing can be quite time-consuming and the most efficient method depends upon many factors, such as the type of facility being sought, the size of the area, the financial resources of the prospective tenant, and the services offered. It is normal for a housing search to take several days; thus seekers should plan on this time factor. The following list presents some of the most common means of finding a place to live:
Newspapers
The classified ad sections of most newspapers usually list all types
of housing. The Sunday papers are the best single day for searching
because the largest quantities of ads are found on that day. If the
demand for housing is high, be sure to get the paper as early as possible
in order to contact the landlord before s/he rents to others. Check
all newspapers including local and community sources. Students should
also use campus publications.
Special Publications
Often, in large metropolitan areas, apartment guides are available. These
may be obtained free of charge, (often at Metro Stations), or for a
nominal fee. They usually contain data on apartment developments including
rent, restrictions, facilities provided, and other services.
Bulletin Boards
Bulletins boards in stores, especially supermarkets, often list information
on apartments and houses. Campus bulletin boards, such as the ones in
student unions, often can be helpful by listing available housing and
where roommates are needed.
Special Housing
Offices and Bureaus
In areas where a large segment of the population rents housing on a
regular basis special offices may be established to deal with the population’s
questions, interests, and problems concerning rental property. For example,
at the University of Maryland students may use the Off Campus Housing
Office to aid them in their search for housing. This office is located
in 1195 Stamp Student Union or at (301) 314-3645.
Word of Mouth
A good way to find suitable housing is to mention your plight to your
friends and new acquaintances. They may be familiar with the area and
may know of places that rely on word of mouth advertising.
Vacancy Signs
Landlords who do not advertise usually place vacancy signs in windows,
on buildings, or on lawns. Locating vacancy signs is difficult and frequently
haphazard, but most appear in the first or last week of the month.
Rental Services
Residential renting services, rental listing agencies, and real estate
offices may be of help in locating a place to live. Some of these services
work on commissions from the landlord, while others require a prepaid
fee from the prospective tenant before allowing him/her to look at the
apartment. Tenants should be wary of this approach, since the actual
apartments promised on the listings might not meet your expectations
or may have already been taken.
Additional Hints
For tenants interested in large apartment developments and/or the services of agencies and realtors, remember that weekdays are the best time to search because many agencies and landlords are not available Sunday and half a day on Saturday.
PRACTICAL SUGGESTIONS FOR CHOOSING AN APARTMENT
Choosing a place to live is a matter of individual preference. The prospective tenant should make the choice considering all of his/her needs and limitations. The Apartment Checklist should be examined before you choose a room, apartment, or house to rent.
BE AWARE OF EXACTLY WHAT YOU ARE GETTING. CAREFULLY EXAMINE THE SPECIFIC APARTMENT THAT IS AVAILABLE, NOT JUST A “MODEL" APARTMENT. Many tenants have learned from hard experience that the actual apartment rented often varies greatly from the conditions, layout, and color scheme of the model apartment.
The tenant should also consider contacting the County Housing Inspectors to determine whether any citations have been issued against the landlord for housing/building code violations. In Prince George’s County, for example, anyone can examine the complaint records filed with the Landlord-Tenant Office.
Also, talk to other tenants. Perhaps the best protection is to ask your prospective neighbors about the landlord’s track record for prompt repairs, the actual cost of utilities, the general noise level, and any other specific concerns. Don’t be shy - other tenants may be very willing to discuss broken promises of the landlord. If possible, find out why the previous tenants moved out.
DISCRIMINATION
Federal and state laws prohibit discrimination in housing. Under Maryland law it is an illegal discriminatory practice to refuse to rent to someone on the basis of race, ethnic origin, religion, national origin, sex, martial status, or mental and physical handicap. Therefore, a landlord or property owner cannot legally turn away a prospective tenant on any of these grounds. It is also unlawful to discriminate for these reasons by charging extra rent, denying that a vacant apartment is available, or advertising a preference for or against persons of one race, ethnic origin, religion, national origin, or sex.
If you feel that you have been the victim of discrimination contact the following agency:
Maryland Commission on Human Relations
(800) 637-6247
6 St. Paul Street, Suite 900
Baltimore, MD 21202
Hours: M-F; 8:30 a.m.-5 p.m.
Filing a complaint of discrimination may result in the prosecution of the landlord. In addition, under federal law you may be entitled to damages of $1,000 plus attorney’s fees if you have been discriminated against on the grounds of race, ethnic origin, or religion.
The state law against sex discrimination in housing, however, does not prevent dwellings that are planned for and occupied by only one sex.
Note that neither Federal nor Maryland law mentions discrimination on the basis of age or student status. A landlord may legally refuse to rent to you if you are a minor (under 18 years of age) or if you lack the financial resources to pay the rent. It would be advisable for persons who fall in these categories to bring their parents along when they search housing. Parents will help make a favorable impression on the landlord and they will be necessary co-signers of the lease in the case of minors.
County laws may expand the definition of discrimination to encompass other factors not covered by state or federal laws. In Prince George’s County, housing discrimination is also illegal if based on occupation, political opinion, personal appearance, or age (except as required by state or federal law).
Under an ordinance enacted in October, 1977, a blind or deaf tenant in Prince George’s County has the right to keep a dog on the premises, provided that the dog is certified as being specially trained to aid the tenant in his/her handicap. This right exists regardless of what the lease says about pets; in fact landlords in Prince George’s County are now required to insert a clause in any written lease that acknowledges the right of handicapped persons. Filing a complaint of discrimination is not a complicated or difficult process; one only needs to obtain and fill out a complaint form from the proper agency.
CREDIT CHECKS
Landlords will often check your credit history to see if you have paid your past bills on time. Prospective tenants should get a copy of their own credit report in order to check that everything included in the report is up to date and accurate before applying. Credit bureaus collect information about your credit history from a number of sources. This information may stay on file for up to 10 years and may include:
- Your name, current and former address, Social Security Number, current and former employers, birth date, type of occupation, yearly income, whether you rent or own your current home, and information about your spouse.
- Dates that you opened your credit account(s), took out loans, and the terms of the credit accounts.
- Previous attempts to receive credit, car loans, insurance, mortgages, etc.
- Current account balances, past due amounts, and how often you pay late.
- Your biggest loan ever received and any limits on your credit card accounts.
- Any bankruptcies, lawsuits, court judgments, liens, or repossessions.
If you are refused housing because of any information on your credit report then you may obtain a free copy of your report within 30 days by requesting it in writing from the credit bureau. Also, you may then submit a personal letter of explanation to your file. If the landlord charged an initial screening fee, he should have already provided you the name and address of the bureau under the Federal Fair Credit Reporting Act.
TENANT SCREENING SERVICES
Some landlords may use a tenant screening service to help them decide which applicants should be permitted to rent from them. These services have access to your credit history and possibly court records that can include past evictions, divorces, and small claims that may have been made.
To save yourself money and time, ask landlords if they rely on tenant screening services to select tenants. Make sure that you can pass the criteria before you pay the application and/or screening fee. Furthermore, if you know that you will not meet the criteria of the screening service, ask the landlord if s/he will consider your explanations. Often, some landlords will adjust their criteria for an honest explanation.
If a tenant is rejected because of a credit report, the landlord’s only obligation to the prospective tenant is to tell the tenant the name and address of the agency. Note: It is legal to reject a tenant simply because the tenant has been evicted in the past. BEWARE: A landlord who does not screen people may accept a person with bad credit, but also may provide a lower standard of care for their properties.
APPLICATION FEES
A landlord may charge a fee to cover the cost of processing the application. This may include the cost of running a background or credit check. The landlord may not charge a screening fee unless he gives a written notice of:
- What information will be obtained
- The charge for the process
- The applicant’s right to dispute the information obtained
- The name and address of the credit bureau
An application fee cannot be legally charged if there is no available rental unit. You cannot be charged a fee or deposit just to be put on a waiting list. Application fees should not be more than the actual costs of the screening. If the landlord does not perform the screening, he must refund the fee within a reasonable amount of time.
