Skyline Properties, Jim:agent, Linda Jones: Home Owner Mapes Ave Security Deposit Fraud Lakewood California

I own rental properties and have a few comments to help renters;

1. If repairs are needed when you first view the unit-SIGN NOTHING and keep looking! If you wish to rent the unit on the "promise" that items will be repaired after you move in GET IT IN WRITING. Write up an agreement that states EXACTLY what will be repaired, HOW it will be repaired, and a DATE that repairs must be completed with a penalty clause (such as reduced rent, no rent payments) that compensates you until the promised repairs are made. NO VERBAL AGREEMENTS FOR FUTURE REPAIRS. The agreement needs to be signed by you and the landlord/landlord's agent. Also, the written lease needs to be modified to include the "future repairs" agreement. This can be a simple "pen and ink" addition to the lease agreement that states something along the lines of "see attached repair agreement" with the addition initialed by you and the landlord/landlord's agent. Both you and the landlord/landlord's agent need to retain copies of the lease and repair agreement.

If the landlord/landlord's agent will not sign a written "future repairs" agreement, MOVE ON to another rental unit.

I don't show ANY unit until repairs are made, but this is not so with many landlords, especially those who use certain property management companies. If the landlord is THAT eager to rent the unit that the unit is showed in DISREPAIR, there is probably a CASH FLOW problem and it is likely that the repairs will NOT be made or will not be made in a timely manner.

2. About damages and security deposits. When a landlord wishes to charge you for replacing a carpet, appliance, fixture that you have damaged, the landlord is entitled to the DEPRECIATED VALUE of the damage. For example, if the carpet is 10 years old and you stain or rip it, the landloard should not charge you for NEW carpet-no court I know of will go along with that. The court will grant the DEPRECIATED value for damage to items that are NOT NEW.

An exception to this MIGHT be if the lease expressly states that you will be responsible for the REPLACEMENT COSTS of damaged items-if it does MOVE ON to another landlord. This is bogus in my opinion. Owning rental units is a BUSINESS and when I purchase/install a NEW item I get to deduct 150% from my business income taxes- 100% of the cost of the item PLUS 50% DEPRECIATION of the item. In other words, if it costs me $400 to replace a dishwasher with a new diswasher, I get to deduct $600 from taxable income; the cost of the new dishwasher plus depreciation of the new dishwasher (it depreciates because it becomes a USED dishwasher.)

3. Your actions were good, but here's something else to do AT MOVE IN and MOVE OUT. Take pictures/video of any damage or items that need repair AND include in the picture/video the front page of the local newspaper-this will prevent the pictures from being subject to demurer (contesting the date of the picture/video) if you end up in court.

Good luck in the future.

I own rental properties and have a few comments to help renters;

1. If repairs are needed when you first view the unit-SIGN NOTHING and keep looking! If you wish to rent the unit on the "promise" that items will be repaired after you move in GET IT IN WRITING. Write up an agreement that states EXACTLY what will be repaired, HOW it will be repaired, and a DATE that repairs must be completed with a penalty clause (such as reduced rent, no rent payments) that compensates you until the promised repairs are made. NO VERBAL AGREEMENTS FOR FUTURE REPAIRS. The agreement needs to be signed by you and the landlord/landlord's agent. Also, the written lease needs to be modified to include the "future repairs" agreement. This can be a simple "pen and ink" addition to the lease agreement that states something along the lines of "see attached repair agreement" with the addition initialed by you and the landlord/landlord's agent. Both you and the landlord/landlord's agent need to retain copies of the lease and repair agreement.

If the landlord/landlord's agent will not sign a written "future repairs" agreement, MOVE ON to another rental unit.

I don't show ANY unit until repairs are made, but this is not so with many landlords, especially those who use certain property management companies. If the landlord is THAT eager to rent the unit that the unit is showed in DISREPAIR, there is probably a CASH FLOW problem and it is likely that the repairs will NOT be made or will not be made in a timely manner.

2. About damages and security deposits. When a landlord wishes to charge you for replacing a carpet, appliance, fixture that you have damaged, the landlord is entitled to the DEPRECIATED VALUE of the damage. For example, if the carpet is 10 years old and you stain or rip it, the landloard should not charge you for NEW carpet-no court I know of will go along with that. The court will grant the DEPRECIATED value for damage to items that are NOT NEW.

An exception to this MIGHT be if the lease expressly states that you will be responsible for the REPLACEMENT COSTS of damaged items-if it does MOVE ON to another landlord. This is bogus in my opinion. Owning rental units is a BUSINESS and when I purchase/install a NEW item I get to deduct 150% from my business income taxes- 100% of the cost of the item PLUS 50% DEPRECIATION of the item. In other words, if it costs me $400 to replace a dishwasher with a new diswasher, I get to deduct $600 from taxable income; the cost of the new dishwasher plus depreciation of the new dishwasher (it depreciates because it becomes a USED dishwasher.)

3. Your actions were good, but here's something else to do AT MOVE IN and MOVE OUT. Take pictures/video of any damage or items that need repair AND include in the picture/video the front page of the local newspaper-this will prevent the pictures from being subject to demurer (contesting the date of the picture/video) if you end up in court.

Good luck in the future.

I own rental properties and have a few comments to help renters;

1. If repairs are needed when you first view the unit-SIGN NOTHING and keep looking! If you wish to rent the unit on the "promise" that items will be repaired after you move in GET IT IN WRITING. Write up an agreement that states EXACTLY what will be repaired, HOW it will be repaired, and a DATE that repairs must be completed with a penalty clause (such as reduced rent, no rent payments) that compensates you until the promised repairs are made. NO VERBAL AGREEMENTS FOR FUTURE REPAIRS. The agreement needs to be signed by you and the landlord/landlord's agent. Also, the written lease needs to be modified to include the "future repairs" agreement. This can be a simple "pen and ink" addition to the lease agreement that states something along the lines of "see attached repair agreement" with the addition initialed by you and the landlord/landlord's agent. Both you and the landlord/landlord's agent need to retain copies of the lease and repair agreement.

If the landlord/landlord's agent will not sign a written "future repairs" agreement, MOVE ON to another rental unit.

I don't show ANY unit until repairs are made, but this is not so with many landlords, especially those who use certain property management companies. If the landlord is THAT eager to rent the unit that the unit is showed in DISREPAIR, there is probably a CASH FLOW problem and it is likely that the repairs will NOT be made or will not be made in a timely manner.

2. About damages and security deposits. When a landlord wishes to charge you for replacing a carpet, appliance, fixture that you have damaged, the landlord is entitled to the DEPRECIATED VALUE of the damage. For example, if the carpet is 10 years old and you stain or rip it, the landloard should not charge you for NEW carpet-no court I know of will go along with that. The court will grant the DEPRECIATED value for damage to items that are NOT NEW.

An exception to this MIGHT be if the lease expressly states that you will be responsible for the REPLACEMENT COSTS of damaged items-if it does MOVE ON to another landlord. This is bogus in my opinion. Owning rental units is a BUSINESS and when I purchase/install a NEW item I get to deduct 150% from my business income taxes- 100% of the cost of the item PLUS 50% DEPRECIATION of the item. In other words, if it costs me $400 to replace a dishwasher with a new diswasher, I get to deduct $600 from taxable income; the cost of the new dishwasher plus depreciation of the new dishwasher (it depreciates because it becomes a USED dishwasher.)

3. Your actions were good, but here's something else to do AT MOVE IN and MOVE OUT. Take pictures/video of any damage or items that need repair AND include in the picture/video the front page of the local newspaper-this will prevent the pictures from being subject to demurer (contesting the date of the picture/video) if you end up in court.

Good luck in the future.

I own rental properties and have a few comments to help renters;

1. If repairs are needed when you first view the unit-SIGN NOTHING and keep looking! If you wish to rent the unit on the "promise" that items will be repaired after you move in GET IT IN WRITING. Write up an agreement that states EXACTLY what will be repaired, HOW it will be repaired, and a DATE that repairs must be completed with a penalty clause (such as reduced rent, no rent payments) that compensates you until the promised repairs are made. NO VERBAL AGREEMENTS FOR FUTURE REPAIRS. The agreement needs to be signed by you and the landlord/landlord's agent. Also, the written lease needs to be modified to include the "future repairs" agreement. This can be a simple "pen and ink" addition to the lease agreement that states something along the lines of "see attached repair agreement" with the addition initialed by you and the landlord/landlord's agent. Both you and the landlord/landlord's agent need to retain copies of the lease and repair agreement.

If the landlord/landlord's agent will not sign a written "future repairs" agreement, MOVE ON to another rental unit.

I don't show ANY unit until repairs are made, but this is not so with many landlords, especially those who use certain property management companies. If the landlord is THAT eager to rent the unit that the unit is showed in DISREPAIR, there is probably a CASH FLOW problem and it is likely that the repairs will NOT be made or will not be made in a timely manner.

2. About damages and security deposits. When a landlord wishes to charge you for replacing a carpet, appliance, fixture that you have damaged, the landlord is entitled to the DEPRECIATED VALUE of the damage. For example, if the carpet is 10 years old and you stain or rip it, the landloard should not charge you for NEW carpet-no court I know of will go along with that. The court will grant the DEPRECIATED value for damage to items that are NOT NEW.

An exception to this MIGHT be if the lease expressly states that you will be responsible for the REPLACEMENT COSTS of damaged items-if it does MOVE ON to another landlord. This is bogus in my opinion. Owning rental units is a BUSINESS and when I purchase/install a NEW item I get to deduct 150% from my business income taxes- 100% of the cost of the item PLUS 50% DEPRECIATION of the item. In other words, if it costs me $400 to replace a dishwasher with a new diswasher, I get to deduct $600 from taxable income; the cost of the new dishwasher plus depreciation of the new dishwasher (it depreciates because it becomes a USED dishwasher.)

3. Your actions were good, but here's something else to do AT MOVE IN and MOVE OUT. Take pictures/video of any damage or items that need repair AND include in the picture/video the front page of the local newspaper-this will prevent the pictures from being subject to demurer (contesting the date of the picture/video) if you end up in court.

Good luck in the future.

I own rental properties and have a few comments to help renters;

1. If repairs are needed when you first view the unit-SIGN NOTHING and keep looking! If you wish to rent the unit on the "promise" that items will be repaired after you move in GET IT IN WRITING. Write up an agreement that states EXACTLY what will be repaired, HOW it will be repaired, and a DATE that repairs must be completed with a penalty clause (such as reduced rent, no rent payments) that compensates you until the promised repairs are made. NO VERBAL AGREEMENTS FOR FUTURE REPAIRS. The agreement needs to be signed by you and the landlord/landlord's agent. Also, the written lease needs to be modified to include the "future repairs" agreement. This can be a simple "pen and ink" addition to the lease agreement that states something along the lines of "see attached repair agreement" with the addition initialed by you and the landlord/landlord's agent. Both you and the landlord/landlord's agent need to retain copies of the lease and repair agreement.

If the landlord/landlord's agent will not sign a written "future repairs" agreement, MOVE ON to another rental unit.

I don't show ANY unit until repairs are made, but this is not so with many landlords, especially those who use certain property management companies. If the landlord is THAT eager to rent the unit that the unit is showed in DISREPAIR, there is probably a CASH FLOW problem and it is likely that the repairs will NOT be made or will not be made in a timely manner.

2. About damages and security deposits. When a landlord wishes to charge you for replacing a carpet, appliance, fixture that you have damaged, the landlord is entitled to the DEPRECIATED VALUE of the damage. For example, if the carpet is 10 years old and you stain or rip it, the landloard should not charge you for NEW carpet-no court I know of will go along with that. The court will grant the DEPRECIATED value for damage to items that are NOT NEW.

An exception to this MIGHT be if the lease expressly states that you will be responsible for the REPLACEMENT COSTS of damaged items-if it does MOVE ON to another landlord. This is bogus in my opinion. Owning rental units is a BUSINESS and when I purchase/install a NEW item I get to deduct 150% from my business income taxes- 100% of the cost of the item PLUS 50% DEPRECIATION of the item. In other words, if it costs me $400 to replace a dishwasher with a new diswasher, I get to deduct $600 from taxable income; the cost of the new dishwasher plus depreciation of the new dishwasher (it depreciates because it becomes a USED dishwasher.)

3. Your actions were good, but here's something else to do AT MOVE IN and MOVE OUT. Take pictures/video of any damage or items that need repair AND include in the picture/video the front page of the local newspaper-this will prevent the pictures from being subject to demurer (contesting the date of the picture/video) if you end up in court.

Good luck in the future.