We have been toying around with what things we require from prospective tenants as a condition to rent. We started out with a simple policy requiring photo ID, but over time we have noticed a few trends.
I looked at every auctioned tenant, and every incident report (i.e. sleeping in unit, etc.) filed in the last 7 years; I realized that 9 out of 10 of those tenants only had a state issued ID card. So I've been thinking about requiring a valid drivers license is for rental.
I'm curious what others have experienced, and what facilities require for rental? We can require pretty much anything as a condition of rental, provided it is applied to everyone, and doesn't violate protected class laws.... where is the balance between protecting you facility, and losing customers?
I know of some facilities that require social security numbers, but with my customer demographic it would be committing suicide to require that. I would also keep in mind occupancy %'s since a "full" facility can afford to be more picky then one currently in Lease up.
SO, anyone want to chime in with their requirements?
Comments
I-43 Storage
One change I made took care of the "Restroom Showering" tenants. It was very easy, we simply turned the hot water off to the restrooms.
It was a big issue. Quite a few "transient" tenants (also w/o drivers licenses) technically weren't breaking rules, but would spend 45 min a day in the restrooms "showering".
With 814 units, we are always going to have one or two Problem children.
the straw that broke the rental requirements debate... (although in this case it wouldn't have mattered.)
during a signup... scuzzy looking guy walks in barefoot with soap & a towel wrapped around his waist, proceeds to code into the restroom.. the customers in front of me almost got up and left!
Turns out it was the brother of a new tenant...After confronting her she admitted that she had rented the unit for him to "have a place to go". Since he is not a listed occupant, he was immediately barred from entering the property; she quietly closed the account a few days later.
Funny thing @Orkocean ...After I shut off the restroom hot water, the ONLY complaints were from the "shower" tenants.
I-43 Storage
www.rentess.com
You don't know why they don't have a DL. So your decisions need to be case by case based on many things, and not just a blanket "No DL, no unit."
www.rentess.com
A facility can require whatever requirements to rent that they want.
As long as those requirements are applied to EVERY client (and the requirement doesn't specifically target a "protected class" i.e. sex, race, etc.)
The trick is finding a balance. You want to protect your facility, but at the same time you cant turn away all of your business!
I know facilities that require Social Security numbers or Credit Cards as a requirement to rent.... Now, it would likely be business suicide to do that, but it's not illegal.
And give Best opinions about cheap Storage
I am Super Storage.
Had one inebriated person come in, asking questions, said he knew the previous manager and what kind of discounts could I offer him? I'm not renting to anyone who is currently under some kind of negative influence. The $9 minimum insurance scared him away. I'm not authorized to give discounts either, since we're running a couple already; that's enough for now since we're under new ownership.