house a vs house b, cage match!

September 14, 2007 4:01 PM

A tale of two houses: House owned by agency A - our first choice in a rental. House owned by agency B - our second, but still cool choice. We've been offered House B (small applause). House A, however, is being held up in the approval process, because my boyfriend's old landlord wont verify that he rented from them. Guess who the landlord is?

Yes, the agency who has offered us house B. I hope this is clear, because its confusing the hell out of me. My best guess, though I could be wrong, is that agency owning house B is stonewalling agency A because they know if they give up the information, they could lose us as prospective tenants. They claim that the property has been sold, and since they no longer own it, they can't verify. They also claim not to know who owns it now. I've alerted agency A that I think we are being stonewalled, and they say its our problem - if it cant be verified, we don't get the house. Does this sound unreasonable to anyone else? Is there a way to go around the system and verify through an outside source. My head is spinning. Sorry if anyone else's is after reading this.

posted by fillsthepews to home & garden (8 comments total)

Do you have copies of the lease, proof of paying rent, or anything else from when he was living there? Even utility bills in his name could be a start (they'd show occupancy although not who the landlord was).

In NZ all bonds go to a central agency where they are held during the tenancy (Tenancy Services) and their records would be proof of rental. I don't think you have anything similar but tracking down the deposit (receipts, cancelled cheques, letters about getting it returned, etc) could be a good place to start.
posted by shelleycat at 4:12 PM on September 14, 2007

How long ago did you live there? Do you have any other proof your husband live there? Can you send both agencies copies of electric bills or, even better, leases or communications between B and husband?

On preview, yeah.

Also: I'd be wary about renting from a place behaving like B.
posted by the christopher hundreds at 4:14 PM on September 14, 2007

Oh, and if you husband's bank sends his checks back to him once processed, maybe he has old rent checks? Or carbons?
posted by the christopher hundreds at 4:17 PM on September 14, 2007

Oh, and if you husband's bank sends his checks back to him once processed, maybe he has old rent checks? Or carbons?

And if he doesn't have a copy of these there's a good chance the bank still will. They generally archive stuff for a number of years. He may have to pay a small fee to get them but it might be worth it to you to avoid renting from an agency so uncaring about your well being.
posted by shelleycat at 5:48 PM on September 14, 2007

I tracked down a copy of the lease. I called agency A to let them know, and they didnt care one bit. They want to talk to the landlord, or nothing. I told agency A that I thought something fishy was going on, and they were totally unsuspicious.

I really dont know whats going on at all.
posted by fillsthepews at 6:30 PM on September 14, 2007

Personally, I would be tempted to simply call up Agency B one more time and tell them, using no uncertain terms:

"You need to give verification to Agency A. If you do, I might choose their property, or I might choose yours. If you don't, I will certainly never give you any money again."

First, though, I might find out the current owner of your old property, and talk to them. You don't have to go through B to do this.
posted by CrayDrygu at 6:40 PM on September 14, 2007

A credit report will probably also show address history, if not tenancy credit history.
posted by acoutu at 9:02 PM on September 14, 2007

Is the rental market so overflooded with unrented homes that Agency B would be that underhanded to keep you as a renter? If so, it sounds like there are plenty of homes out there to rent from, and agencies that would be happy with documented proof--lease, cancelled checks with proper dates, credit rating report--of good tenency. Or, it could just be that Agency B isn't being evil or sneaky, but that they are just really understaffed and disorganized. Give them some time, unless the Agency has given you a lease asking you to sign it NOW. In that case, bring the lease over to Agency A and tell them you'd really prefer house A and explain the situation. Do it in person, rather than over the phone.
posted by jujube at 1:10 AM on September 15, 2007