I live in London in a flat of three, and someone wants to move out. We have someone else ready to move in. The lettings agency wish to charge £150 for swapping a person over, and £100 for admin fees. Can we dispute this, for a more reasonable fee? [more inside]
posted by anonymous on Nov 16, 2009 - 6 answers

My grandpa lives in Chicago and has decided to move into a retirement community (also in Chicago). We are not sure what to do with his condo. The mortgage is paid off, but the assessments come to about $550 a month with taxes being around $1000/yr. We would like to sell the condo at some point, but right now market is so bad that it might not be worth selling. We are considering renting it out, but have never had experience with renting. We believe we can rent it out for about $1,000 a month. [more inside]
posted by parakeetdog on Nov 1, 2009 - 9 answers

My condo suddenly wants me to sign an agreement saying I will abide by their draconian rules and provide a tonne of personal data to them. This is all under the guise that they are creating 'files' for residents for access to the building. Is this legal? [more inside]
posted by urbanette on Oct 13, 2009 - 10 answers

I'm currently renting a flat unit in New Zealand which I will be moving out next month. My current rental agreement states that I do not need to have the carpet professionally cleaned before I move out. I have two cats in the house and the question was raised with the property agent before I moved in. They have agreed to let me have the pets in the house and on the rental agreement, it also states that they are okay with it. [more inside]
posted by anonymous on Sep 12, 2009 - 28 answers

Help me grow up-filter: am I being realistic about my prospects for finding an apartment? [more inside]
posted by anonymous on Sep 9, 2009 - 13 answers

How crazy am I to rent a place in Portland, Oregon without seeing it first? [more inside]
posted by anonymous on Sep 8, 2009 - 9 answers

Renting houses that are on the market for a discounted rate. Good idea? If so, how to do it? [more inside]
posted by visual mechanic on Aug 12, 2009 - 4 answers

Old house hacks wanted! Please suggest some cheap ways to improve life in a crappy college house. [more inside]
posted by ecmendenhall on Jul 30, 2009 - 19 answers

When is the best month to move in New York?? [more inside]
posted by Unred on Jul 29, 2009 - 11 answers

Should I disclose this stuff on my rental application? How far back do they check these things, anyway? [more inside]
posted by anonymous on Jun 30, 2009 - 7 answers

Help me figure out what to do to get proper maintenance in my rented apartment within a condo building. [more inside]
posted by ocherdraco on Jun 25, 2009 - 11 answers

My roommates kicked out our 4th roommate mid-month without consulting me and have since made several decisions that I believe have prevented us from finding someone for next month. I am not on the lease and my opinion has totally been discounted in this process, do I have any ethical (not legal) obligation to kick in for next month's rent? [more inside]
posted by anonymous on Jun 24, 2009 - 27 answers

How do you find a good accountant, or other professional, to help you decide when it's right to buy a house? [more inside]
posted by heathkit on Jun 24, 2009 - 9 answers

My landlords want to kick me out and move into my apartment. They gave me the 60 days notice, but I have some questions about the validity of their notice. [more inside]
posted by krunk on Jun 16, 2009 - 17 answers

Where can I rent a rolling walker to help my future Grandmother-in-Law getting around for a few weeks in Scotland? I just moved to the Aberdeen from the USA to get married and in the chaos of arranging a wedding, I'm trying to be helpful by finding ways for my fiancee's grandmother to get around. [more inside]
posted by nangua on Jun 6, 2009 - 4 answers

Buying House dramas: tenants in place we are due to settle don't want to move out by settlement, but we want to move in! [more inside]
posted by smoke on May 13, 2009 - 15 answers

How do I get rid of really bad neighbors? Are there any legal issues with giving out their landlord's cell phone number? Are there any Philadelphia-specific ways to get them to move? [more inside]
posted by Brachiosaurus on Apr 28, 2009 - 38 answers

My apartment house is being sold. How do I avoid getting screwed? [more inside]
posted by alan on Apr 21, 2009 - 6 answers

What are ways to travel in Britain outside of the public transportation system? [more inside]
posted by Taurid on Apr 3, 2009 - 17 answers

Help me plan my move to the Bay Area! [more inside]
posted by skaye on Mar 19, 2009 - 19 answers

Please make it clear to me just how essential property managers are. [more inside]
posted by ignignokt on Mar 9, 2009 - 26 answers

Can I get the deposit back on a house I didn't move in to? [more inside]
posted by hnnrs on Mar 9, 2009 - 14 answers

I'm planning on taking a working holiday mid april for two months (or longer) in Thailand with a friend. I have a few questions... [more inside]
posted by simplesharps on Mar 2, 2009 - 6 answers

Posting for a friend: My wife and I are moving from BFE Oregon to Lexington, KY. We sold our little house in Oregon without losing any money, but we aren't looking to buy a house in Lexington just yet since we don't know much about the market or where we'd like to live. We have noticed that a lot of property agents rent single family homes, but also offer lease-to-own agreements on new(er) homes. Some of these homes are pretty nice, new, and seem to be in decent areas (we're flying out to see prospective rentals, so we'll be able to see anything before an agreement). Has anyone ever been in a lease-to-own agreement for a house? Is there any advantage to leasing a house like this, instead of just buying it? Does it typically cost much more than renting a place for a few years and then eventually buying? Is the eventual cost the same as simply getting a mortgage and buying the house?
posted by El_Marto on Mar 2, 2009 - 4 answers

I'm getting a house I inherited ready to rent out since I don't want to try and sell it in the current market. I've never been a landlord before. The house is in St. Petersburg, Florida in a desirable neighborhood. [more inside]
posted by lordrunningclam on Feb 10, 2009 - 16 answers

Landlady's domestic dispute leaves my window broken - help! [more inside]
posted by anonymous on Feb 5, 2009 - 9 answers

Advice for timing a move and getting a great deal in a tough rental market? [more inside]
posted by limonade on Jan 30, 2009 - 3 answers

I'm a 22 year old engineer who recently visited the Denver area, loved it, and decided after living in upstate NY my whole life (minus college) to try city living. Where should I look? [more inside]
posted by pennstatephil on Jan 22, 2009 - 14 answers

Getting out of a rental situation ASAP and in to a new place due to a relationship ending... Am having problems figuring out when to give notice and get into the new place in a timely manner but not screwing anyone in the process. Probably a very simple way to do this, but I'm clueless! [more inside]
posted by anonymous on Jan 16, 2009 - 7 answers

My partner and I have been living in our apartment since May. On the first of December, new tenants moved into the apartment two floors below us. They are both heavy smokers, and now we can smell it throughout our apartment, and the stairwell and hallway between our apartments, all the time. We don't like this very much, but what can we do? [more inside]
posted by synecdoche on Jan 6, 2009 - 15 answers

Hello, Hive, I'm planning on moving to Paris a few months for work and pleasure. As a native Swede and a member of the EU group of states, I guess I'll have an easier time getting a somewhat reasonably priced apartment reasonably close to Cité, Montmartre or what have you (Notre Dame I guess would be the center point everything revolves around). Has the Hive got any good suggestions regarding apartment-finding? Other tips on good areas to live, areas to avoid, would be great as a general guide. [more inside]
posted by avocade on Jan 3, 2009 - 9 answers

Our house is in sad state of disrepair. We'd fix it if we could, but we don't own it. We'd be persistent with the "landlords" but, we don't pay rent or bills. How do I tell them in a forceful, but considerate way that the house needs to be fixed? [more inside]
posted by anonymous on Dec 15, 2008 - 31 answers

I'm trying to decide how often I would need to wear a tuxedo to have it make more sense to buy one rather than renting each time. Obviously the financial factor is part of it, but there are also advantages to being able to personalize the accessories (cuff links, tie, etc) that would make a purchase more valuable over time, as well as not having to go through the rental process each time. Conversely, I don't know how much "give" tuxes have to accommodate, e.g., putting on or taking off a few pounds, or how much minor alterations cost, but those would weigh in favor of renting. I'm looking for advice on how to decide at what point it makes more sense to buy and when I should keep renting.
posted by philosophygeek on Nov 13, 2008 - 23 answers

Is there a go-to website for apartment hunters in Seattle? [more inside]
posted by cirocco on Nov 11, 2008 - 12 answers

My SO and I (unmarried) are combining two apartments into one. We both currently have renters insurance of our own, each from our own car insurance company (not the same company). We are not interested in combining our car insurance under one account. Should we get renters insurance for both of us from one of our car insurance companies, or should we each retain our separate renters insurance that covers "my own stuff"?
posted by matildaben on Nov 6, 2008 - 7 answers

In the market of Buying a Condo in the Los Angeles areas and want to know how to research best. Need to find out sites that keep me up to date with the housing market, when its good to buy etc...for with the economy right now I don't really know what to do.....please help [more inside]
posted by matthelm on Sep 23, 2008 - 5 answers

I might be moving to Sydney. What should I think about when planning? [more inside]
posted by jacalata on Sep 18, 2008 - 9 answers

The superintendent of my building has been dragging her feet for months on getting the building's washer and dryers repaired. In my lease, it says that the landlord is responsible for the upkeep of these items. The management company that actually owns the building and pays the super's salary is also not being responsive. Now what? [more inside]
posted by schroedinger on Sep 12, 2008 - 13 answers

Can we get area rugs (or custom cut+bound remnants) to cover our apartment's ugly carpet that won't bubble up or fall apart? [more inside]
posted by Brian Puccio on Sep 6, 2008 - 5 answers

Telephone lines: whose obligation? Renting in an unincorporated area [more inside]
posted by small_ruminant on Aug 28, 2008 - 4 answers

How long in advance should I look for a house to rent? And where do I look besides Craigslist? [more inside]
posted by zompus on Aug 13, 2008 - 8 answers

I live with my parents, and I'm searching for a place to live for the first time. Somewhere near Cal State Fullerton. A question about credit checks, and how to improve my search. [more inside]
posted by malapropist on Jul 21, 2008 - 5 answers

I want to get a bunch of friends to drive down to Mexico and rent a house for the weekend. [more inside]
posted by phaedon on Jun 18, 2008 - 3 answers

My boyfriend and I moved into an apartment with a classmate of his almost 2 years ago. We found a place in Park Slope, Brooklyn, which is notoriously expensive but which we were able to all afford by splitting the rent three ways. Our room was really big, with room for both our desks and a bed. His room is about half the size but he also got the whole hall closet. Now that my boyfriend and I have broken up and he's moved out, we have a little problem. [more inside]
posted by anonymous on Jun 17, 2008 - 28 answers

Mid-twenties, student, renting, moving a lot - how much stuff can one own, and what are your strategies for keeping to that? [more inside]
posted by carbide on Jun 3, 2008 - 16 answers

What can I do to prevent a toilet falling through my ceiling and crushing me, and how do I finagle the end of this (literal) mess? [more inside]
posted by Madamina on Apr 26, 2008 - 21 answers

[Chicagolandfilter] I'm looking to move within the NW suburbs of Chicago. I want somewhere that has a small town or urban feel, like Barrington's downtown, but without the insane housing prices. (We will be renting.) [more inside]
posted by desjardins on Apr 19, 2008 - 18 answers

Tenants or owners, please rave or rant about recent experiences with property management companies in 1. Boston, MA, or 2. Calgary, AB. [more inside]
posted by cybercoitus interruptus on Apr 15, 2008 - 5 answers

My fiancée and I rent our house, and the next door neighbor (who owns her home) has complained about trees from our yard overhanging into hers. The real estate has said they will pay for this, but our neighbor has to write to them to ask as much. Thing is, we don't really want to give our neighbor the contact details to our real estate, for reasons I will detail inside... [more inside]
posted by anonymous on Mar 19, 2008 - 19 answers

I am applying to rent an apartment with an association that is doing extensive background checks. How seriously will they take my misdemeanor? [more inside]
posted by anonymous on Mar 13, 2008 - 8 answers