Rental Offices: Sleazy Business?

Rental home leasing offices are often perceived as sleazy due to a variety of factors that can create a negative impression on prospective tenants. One common issue is the challenge of reaching office staff, who are usually busy handling multiple responsibilities, including complaints, rent payments, maintenance, and tours for prospective renters. This can lead to frustration for those trying to contact the office during limited working hours. Additionally, leasing agents represent the landlord's interests, and their compensation structure may incentivize certain behaviours. For example, they may withhold information about available vacancies to create a sense of urgency and pressure applicants to put in an application quickly. While negotiating for extras or price reductions is common, agents may not offer these options unless explicitly asked, and aggressive negotiation could backfire. The process can feel impersonal, as landlords primarily consider income, credit score, and move-in date when selecting tenants.

Leasing offices are hard to reach

Leasing offices are notoriously hard to reach. If you work the same hours as the leasing offices, you may have very little time to call or visit them. Even if you do call, it's rare that someone answers. Some leasing offices don't answer phone calls when they're giving tours to prospective renters, while others may be closed for holidays or be operating with a skeleton staff. Leasing offices are often notoriously understaffed, with staff handling complaints from current residents, processing rent payments, coordinating maintenance, and giving tours.

If you leave a voicemail or send an email, you may only get an automated response, and it could take a while to get a reply. If you go through the website's "Contact Us" page, you may get an automated response and nothing else.

If you're in a competitive rental market, consider getting a real estate agent, as some rentals are only listed on the MLS system. Websites like Hotpads, Zillow Rentals, and Trulia Rentals can also be useful.

Staffing issues

For example, a leasing office may have only one person working, who is responsible for handling complaints, processing rent payments, coordinating maintenance, giving tours, and answering phone calls and emails. This heavy workload can lead to a backlog of tasks, making it difficult for staff to keep up with the demands of the job.

Additionally, staff may be required to work outside of regular office hours, especially if they are managing multiple properties. This can result in further delays in responding to inquiries and may contribute to a sense of unapproachability.

The high workload and time constraints can also lead to rushed or incomplete tours of the rental properties, which may leave prospective renters feeling dissatisfied and unvalued.

To address these staffing issues, leasing offices could consider increasing their staff numbers, implementing more efficient systems, or utilizing technology to streamline tasks and improve responsiveness. By addressing these issues, leasing offices can improve their level of service and reduce the perception of sleaziness.

Prospective renters are low priority

Another reason why prospective renters may be low priority is that leasing agents represent the landlord's interests, not those of the renter. Leasing agents are not obligated to disclose all available apartments or offer negotiable deals unless prompted by the renter. They may withhold information about vacancies to create a sense of urgency and maintain the landlord's bargaining power. Furthermore, leasing agents are less likely to be accommodating if prospective renters are perceived as demanding or aggressive in their negotiations.

In a competitive rental market, prospective renters may also face challenges in getting their applications prioritized. Leasing offices typically give preference to the first application received, and if multiple applications are submitted simultaneously, they consider factors such as income, credit score, and move-in date. Prospective renters who do not meet these criteria may be at a disadvantage and may need to act quickly to secure their desired rental property.

Leasing agents represent landlords, not renters

Leasing agents are hired or employed by landlords, apartment complexes, or brokerage firms. They are responsible for showing the property, screening tenants, and coordinating lease signings. Leasing agents negotiate on behalf of the landlord, and their responsibility is to get the highest rent possible with the least amount of risk and expense on every lease transaction. They are legally obligated to represent the landlord's best interests and are counting on the fact that you lack commercial real estate knowledge.

Leasing agents market the property, attract potential tenants, and work to get the highest lease rates and best terms for the building owner. They are not allowed to disclose how low the building owner is willing to go, how badly they need to lease the space, or anything else that would put the building owner at a disadvantage.

Leasing agents will develop effective marketing campaigns, show the space to prospective tenants, receive and present offers, and negotiate on the landlord's behalf. They will also draft proposals and counteroffers, helping the owner get the best terms and highest rents possible.

In some cases, a leasing agent will charge a fee, referred to as a "commission fee," "finder's fee," or "agent fee," which is typically paid by the tenant, landlord, or split between both depending on the market. It is important for tenants to understand that when they contact a leasing agent, they are contacting the landlord's representative, whose primary responsibility is to the landlord.

Renters are often unaware of their rights

Renting a home is a challenging process, and renters are often unaware of their rights, which can make them vulnerable to exploitation or unfair treatment. It is important for renters to educate themselves about their rights to protect themselves from housing law violations. Here are some key rights that renters should be aware of:

Right to Fair Housing: The Fair Housing Act of 1968 protects renters from being denied housing based on race, religion, sex, age, nationality, family status, or physical disability. Renters are entitled to equal access to safe and habitable rentals, and landlords must comply with any requested accommodations, such as installing a ramp or providing access to a TTY number for the hearing-impaired.

Right to a Habitable Home: Renters have the right to live in a home that meets basic standards of habitability, including heat, utilities, and water. The home should also pose no threat to the renter's physical health and should have proper safety measures, such as fire alarms, extinguishers, and carbon monoxide detectors. Renters are entitled to timely repairs and maintenance, especially for urgent issues.

Right to Privacy: Landlords or property managers must give reasonable notice before entering the rental property for maintenance or other visits. In some states, renters are entitled to a 24- to 48-hour notice. Visits during unreasonable hours, such as in the middle of the night, are generally prohibited unless there is an emergency.

Right to Quiet Enjoyment: Also known as the "Covenant of Quiet Enjoyment," this right allows renters to enjoy their rental space without disruptions, such as unwarranted maintenance repairs or noisy neighbours. Landlords are responsible for ensuring that all renters in their properties can live peacefully and quietly.

Security Deposit Rights: Renters have the right to have their security deposit returned at the end of their lease. Some states have timeframe requirements and laws regarding interest rates attached to rental deposits. If a portion of the security deposit is used for repairs, the landlord must provide a written explanation to the renter.

Eviction Rights: Renters are protected by specific procedures during the eviction process. They have the right to receive an eviction notice stating the reasons for eviction, such as non-payment of rent, and are typically given a period to rectify the situation. If the issue is not resolved, renters have the right to appear in court to argue their case.

It is important to note that renter's rights may vary depending on the local, state, and federal laws of a particular region. Renters should familiarise themselves with the specific laws in their area to understand their rights fully. Additionally, renters should carefully read and understand the terms of their lease agreement to know their rights and obligations.

Frequently asked questions