TENANTS Tenant Inquiries Relocating to Northern New Jersey? Bergen County Hudson County Buying vs Renting? Why List with Us? FAQs • Looking for a luxury rental along the Hudson River with convenient transportation to New York from New Jersey. • Have a family and need a great school system in Bergen or Hudson County, then do a Smart Rentals Search. • You have free access to property listings and rental buildings in Bergen County and Hudson County. • We have promotion and specials in new construction or rental buildings.   • If you are looking for a high-rise, mid-rise, garden apartment, single or multifamily home. • Need a rental in the Bergen, Hudson, Passaic or Hudson County. • Are you considering buying vs renting?   • Relocating to Bergen or Hudson County. • Need help making your NJ rental search easy. • Looking for a trained rental specialist. • No trouble with the maze of paperwork and want your rental experience as easy as possible.   • What's new for rent in a luxury waterfront rental. • Looking for an updated rental list posted daily. • Want to know what effects price and market activity. • Bergen and Hudson County condos on the Hudson waterfront. Relocating to Bergen or Hudson County? Smart Rentals provides comprehensive rental listings, for all types of properties in Bergen and Hudson County: rental buildings, single family homes, condominiums/condos, cooperatives/coops, mid-rise, high-rise, townhomes/townhouses, lofts or flats. We have online access to the New Jersey MLS which provides a detailed description, provides floor plans and square footage, online tours, virtual tours, monthly cost calculators, school system information, and simplifies the process so that you can find your ideal home.  Go through our website to learn about rental market comparisons in Bergen and Hudson County New Jersey comparing each building by the price per square foot.  Use the SMART Realty site to search listings to compare the cost of renting versus the cost of buying by using the monthly cost calculator for every listing in the NJMLS. If you need easy transportation from Bergen or Hudson County to NYC, via bus, ferry, light rail, George Washington Bridge, Lincoln or Holland Tunnel the Smart Rental Search will provide you that information. All Bergen and Hudson County listings and information are free. We can provide you the most sophisticated search for NJ rental listings on the Gold Coast on river road and Port Imperial Drive as well as Hoboken or Jersey City or in suburban communities, hi-rise buildings with full service and all amenities and provide the content to make your Bergen or Hudson County rental search as simple as possible. Click Rental Search to find Edgewater, Fort Lee, Cliffside Park, North Bergen, Guttenberg, West New York, Weehawken, Hoboken or Jersey City rentals. Let our expert rental staff help you.  We are one of the industries top rental companies in Bergen and Hudson County.  Let us simplify the rental process. Call us today and ask our experts where should I rent / should I rent or buy? BERGEN COUNTY REAL ESTATE, BERGEN COUNTY TOWNS           Click here for more information about Bergen County New Jersey. HUDSON COUNTY REAL ESTATE, HUDSON COUNTY TOWNS         Click here for more information about Hudson County New Jersey. Buying vs Renting? RENTvsOWNING.com Conventional wisdom was to save you money to purchase rather than simply rent. Renting was seen as being equivalent to throwing money away. That wisdom is now in question since home prices do not always go higher. Even in a flat market you can pay too high a price in relation to rental value. The assumption that housing is always a “bull market” is gone.  It was easy to lose sight of the relationship between price and the rental value of a home.  This constant of home expenses vs rental value is the basis of RENT VS OWNING. Always do the math in terms of net rent which is the annual rent a house would command, minus property taxes, insurance, maintenance costs, losses from occasional vacancies and any fees paid to property managers. For more information about rentals in your area or if now is the time to buy, contact us. Why List with Us? For years, real estate companies were in the business of providing information. Today information can be found very easily on the Internet from many different websites where millions of listings can be found. Smart Rentals provides service and expertise. After you find your rental we guide you through the maze of forms, disclosures, contingencies, inspections and the myriad of details involved in renting a home. Over 87% of buyers use the Internet as their first source. SMART Rentals is your 100% solution. NJ LANDLORDS: QUESTIONS FOR THE PROSPECTIVE NJ TENANT 1. TENANT REASON FOR MOVING: Why have you decided to move? You can learn a lot by listening to the tenant.  Look for legitimate reasons for moving like our family is growing, we are pregnant and need more room, relocation, looking to move up, want more security, etc.  Watch out for some red flags for tenant moving like the tenant is arguing with neighbors/super/landlord or domestic issues. 2. TENANT OCCUPANCY DATE: What is your ideal moving date? In the event the tenant needs to move quickly, be careful, unless the tenant has been looking but did not find a suitable rental as of yet.  Almost all landlords require 30 days notice.  Be careful if the tenant has just started looking and needs to be relocated in a few days.  Sometimes special circumstances apply, like an illness, divorce/court order or job transfer. 3. TENANT QUALIFICATIONS: What is your monthly or annual income? Qualifying the tenant will save a lot of time.  Sometimes the landlord or building management will have a ratio of 3 to 1 or 4 to 1 regarding income to expenses.  Income takes into consideration all income for the parties responsible for payment taken as a ratio against ALL expenses.  This calculation can be done on a monthly or annual basis. 4.  TENANT ABILITY TO PAY: Can you pay, prior to the Move-in date have the First Month’s Rent, Security Deposit (1.5 months) and Brokers Fee (if applicable)? Generally the tenant will fill out an application that will show bank references and amounts on deposit.  As a general rule never allow a tenant to move-in who can not pay all the fees in advance.  Also, the tenant should be advised of how much they need to pay before they move-in.  5. LEGAL RESIDENTS: Who will reside in the house or apartment? It is important all occupants are named on the lease, even the names of the dependent children.  Never take more than two people per bedroom.  Remember, more people, more wear and tear.  Check with the local municipality for restrictions regarding occupancy as they can be a health or safety risk. 6. TENANT REFERENCES: Can You Provide References From Your Employer and Former Landlord? Try to verify income by first requesting an application and pay stubs or tax returns.  References are also important.  With the internet, do a google search to find out as much as possible about the tenant.  Compare the application with the search to find out if there are any curious differences. 7. TENANT CREDIT HISTORY: Will you consent to a Credit Check? It is imperative you do a credit check on all parties responsible for paying the rent. If a prospective tenant does not consent, then do not consider them!    Please make sure the prospective tenant gives you written permission to run the credit check. Do not accept verbal consent under any conditions.  Also, request a photo ID in the form of a drivers license so that you know whose credit you checked. 8. Have you ever been evicted? If the prospective tenant tells you they were evicted, then look for another applicant unless they have a great reason.  Sometimes the tenant does not tell the truth.  However, a credit check may disclose that information. 9. Do you have any pets? Please make sure there is a clause in the lease regarding pets.  If you have a "no pets" policy then make sure the tenant initials the part of the lease which indicates “no pets”. It is best to ask this question right away in order to eliminate those who do not meet your criteria.  If they have pets, then check the local laws about requesting a “pet deposit” or maybe even charge a few dollars more. 10. Do you want to consult an attorney before signing the Lease? A lease is a legal document, generally with a 3 Day Attorney Review Period.  Advise the prospective tenant of their right to consult an attorney either before or after signing the lease. The Lease will note there is a Three Day Attorney Review.  LANDLORDS Landlords Port Imperial Drive Cliffside Park Towne Centre Edgewater & Fort Lee Hoboken Map Why List with Us? Our agents understand the responsibility to the Landlord as listings are constantly monitored and updated on multiple internet portals. We have staff members who work exclusively with your listing to give it the best exposure on the internet. Renting a unit in Bergen County or renting a unit in Hudson County – search Smart Rentals.  Whatever your price range or needs, Smart Rentals is the place to Search NJ Rentals! The Port Imperial NJ Riverfront The Port Imperial Riverfront Master plan illustrates the ensemble of land uses and product offerings at the waterfront in West New York and Gutttenberg on New Jersey’s Gold Coast.  The Gold Coast is described as that area on the New Jersey waterfront between the George Washington Bridge to the North and the Verrazano Narrows Bridge to the South – or the land area in New Jersey on the water directly across from New York City. All of the Port Imperial Master planned communities enjoy a prime waterfront location on the Hudson River waterfront across from Midtown Manhattan in close proximity to the Ferry Terminals, the Light Rail, the Lincoln Tunnel and Newark International Airport. The Gold Coast Pipeline There are currently approximately 11,000 homes in the rental and condo pipeline for the New Jersey Gold Coast. Of the 8,864 homes targeted to be started in 2012/2013, 90% are rental apartments and 10% are for sale condominiums.  Many of these homes will be located on Port Imperial Drive which runs through Guttenberg, West New York and Weehawken. The Gold Coast Sale New Condo Sale Market Competitive new home sales along the Gold Coast from Jersey City to the south to Weehawken’s Port Imperial Drive to the North are as follows: 77 Hudson, Jersey City – 420 residential hi-rise community built by K. Hovnanian, average sales price $700 psf. 1450 Washington Ave, Hoboken – 159 mid-rise building built by Toll Brothers, average sales price $603 psf. Henley on the Hudson, Weehawken – 233 homes in four 6-story buildings off the water and four 4-story buildings on the water, average sales price $$535 - $875 psf. on Port Imperial Drive. Coming soon – Vista Pointe, Port Imperial Drive by K. Hovnanian Other K. Hovnanian condominium projects already constructed on the Gold Coast and to the south on Port Imperial Drive include: Hudson Point, North Bergen, Kingston Point, Guttenberg/ Port Imperial Drive, Jacobs Ferry and Bulls Ferry, West New York/ Port Imperial Drive; Grandview, WNY/ Port Imperial Drive; City Place, Edgewater; 77 Hudson, Crescent Court and Paulus Hook, Jersey City. PORT IMPERIAL and PORT IMPERIAL NORTH   NJ GOLD COAST’S PREMIER PROPERTY IS located on the NJ waterfront from Edgewater to Jersey City, NJ.  The heart of the “Gold Coast” began in West New York, NJ and Weehawken the home of the original and largest Port Imperial Ferry where a commuter can take a 3 minute ferry ride to midtown Manhattan. Port Imperial, NJ consisting of Port Imperial North (north of the ferry) and Port Imperial South (south of the ferry) is in a prime location with a combination of luxury waterfront condos and rentals combined with mixed retail use along the banks of the Hudson River, directly across from New York City. Port Imperial, NJ has two main features; views and transportation! Since the location is opposite midtown Manhattan the site offers the most spectacular NYC skyline views from the George Washington Bridge to the Statue of Liberty.  Transportation is within walking distance to trains, bus or ferry.  Commuters have easy access to Wall Street, Central Park, Soho or the Meat Packing district via the Light Rail Train Station, Ferry to New York City.  If you have a car and want to drive to the city you can make the trip within minutes via car through the Lincoln (Weehawken, NJ) or Holland Tunnel (borders Hoboken and Jersey City). PORT IMPERIAL CONDOS AND RENTAL PROPERTIES GRANDVIEW I at Port Imperial, NJ – 132 Condominium Apartments completed in 2005. GRANDVIEW II at Port Imperial, NJ – 168 Condominiums Apartments completed in 2007. VISTA POINTE at Port Imperial, NJ  – Under Construction completion date 2014. RIVERWALK at Port Imperial, NJ – 350 Midrise rentals above Starbucks, A&P Fresh, NYC Transit on corner. RIVERBEND at Port Imperial, NJ – about 500 rental units, residential over retail community K. HOVNANIAN at Port Imperial, NJ - approved for 309 Condominium Apartments, coming soon. RIVERSEDGE at PORT IMPERIAL, NJ – 250 luxury rentals, pool, clubhouse, lounge, state of the art fitness centre. HUDSON CLUB at Port Imperial, NJ – 350 luxury condos which were converted from rentals, indoor basketball court, business centre, pool, walk to NJ Transit, train and Ferry. Renting or buying a luxury apartment in any of the Port Imperial properties in West New York requires lots of research and the help of a real estate professional.  The biggest part of the decision is whether to Rent or Purchase at Port Imperial.  Having the correct information will help you make the best decision possible when searching for Rental or Sale Listings at Port Imperial. NJ. We know that the search to find the perfect property at Port Imperial can be difficult and we strive to make it easier for you. Since there are over one thousand Port Imperial, NJ properties for rent or sale with hundreds of listings in West New York, New Jersey you should have the help of a SMART professional. Part of refining your Port Imperial, NJ real estate search can be done by going to www.SMART-REALTY.com or www.SMARTNJRENTALS.com  and search by price, number of bedrooms, bathrooms, amenities and other criteria. Pets are allowed in some Port Imperial communities.  Whether you're considering buying or selling property at Port Imperial, West New York, New Jersey or you're looking for information about real estate, check out our websites www.SMARTNJRENTALS.com or www.SMARTRENTALS.us. These sites have all the tools to help you find the perfect rental or sale listing and the right agent to make your search easier. Call 1-888-45-SMART for detailed information including the number of bedrooms, baths, descriptions, photographs and virtual tours for your Port Imperial, NJ property. Cliffside Park Towne Centre Cliffside Park Towne Centre, Cliffside Park N.J. is a combined residential and commercial project with four components, commercial/retail, residential rentals, 3 level parking garage and a pedestrian plaza.   Cliffside Park Towne Centre features about 52,000sf of retail space on two floors.  The first floor will be all retail, meaning stores and restaurants.  The second level of Cliffside Park Towne Centre will consist of service and office businesses.  All of the stores and businesses will be accessible via elevators from the parking garage up to the two levels of Cliffside Park Towne Centre. Cliffside Park Towne Centre is a joint venture project between developer and town on a mission to improve the business district/Anderson Avenue creating a better quality of life for all local residents and surrounding communities.  The town has created a Pilot program stabilizing taxes in order to make this project a success.  The retail/commercial component of Cliffside Park Towne Centre features a 32 square foot Plaza which will be the focal point of the project.  The plaza will be landscaped and provide a 15 foot apron for outdoor seating.  In addition the plaza will have a 40 foot fountain.   The concept will be to have food or restaurants on the first level creating energy and an environment bringing customers to the plaza. The plaza at Cliffside Park Towne Centre will be accessible via foot traffic or from the underground garage providing parking for 190+ cars for all local businesses. Cliffside Park Towne Centre residential component will have about 300 one and two bedroom rental apartments.  The building and residential units will contain state of the art communication systems as well as a business center for the use and enjoyment of the residents.  Cliffside Park Towne Centre is designed to meet the needs of all the residents. Cliffside Park Towne Centre features generous, inviting rooms with high ceilings, picture window with NYC skyline views from every floor.  Spacious one and two bedroom units offer every imaginable convenience and amenities.  Cliffside Park Towne Centre will include a 13,000 square foot landscaped pool deck with cabanas and other amenities along with a 2,500 square foot health club and spa and a 24 hour concierge. The third component of Cliffside Park Towne Centre is a 3 level parking garage; the lower two levels for the residential component and the first level accessible from Anderson Avenue for the business district. EDGEWATER & FORT LEE Edgewater and Fort Lee located in the northeast portion of Bergen County New Jersey have many different types of residential housing ranging from single family homes, two-family homes, condominiums, cooperatives and rental buildings.  They come in all styles, size and shapes including contemporary or traditional, low-rise, mid-rise or high-rise units.   Many new Edgewater rentals and Fort Lee rentals are currently in the planning or construction stages. Edgewater runs 3 miles along the Hudson River while Fort Lee sits atop The Palisades. Both Edgewater and Fort Lee skyline are expanding with new luxury projects either planned or in development.  These new projects, mostly Edgewater and Fort Lee luxury rentals, consist of high-rise or mid-rise buildings with full amenities, most with 24 hour security, doorman, pool, tennis court and health club.  Some of these larger developments have their own retail component bringing energy and life to these communities, neighbourhoods and towns or are located within walking distance to shops and stores. Edgewater and Fort Lee have close proximity to Manhattan and the Meadowlands.  They are a haven for working young or old professionals, single or married.  For that reason Edgewater rentals and Fort Lee rentals are booming.  Routes to New York City via car from Edgewater and Fort Lee are over the George Washington Bridge. A computer ferry located at the foot of Route 5 and River Road is in the heart of Edgewater.  Edgewater and Fort Lee are conveniently located to every major highway and just a few miles from the Meadowlands, home to the Meadowlands Sports Complex and MetLife Stadium, which is host of the 2014 Super Bowl, and numerous outlets and employment centres.  Travelling along Edgewater’s River Road leads directly to Port Imperial Drive.  You will notice a combination of high-rise rentals, townhouse rentals and flat rentals on both sides of the roard as you travel along the Hudson River.   Continuing along the Hudson River on Port Imperial Drive takes you first to Hoboken then through Hoboken’s local streets to Jersey City.   Access to NYC via car, ferry, bus or rail is less than 30 minutes from any of these towns.  If you do not want to go to New York City then nearby Main Street, Englewood, Anderson Avenue Cliffside Park, City Place Edgewater, Washington Avenue Hoboken and Newport Jersey City offers plenty of entertainment and fine dining. New construction in Edgewater consists of Infiniti and The Alexander.   Both The Infiniti and Alexander are luxury rental buildings.  The Borough of Edgewater recently passed an Ordinance allowing buildings of 14 stories on some of the best remaining properties on the west and east sides of River Road.  Most of the new buildings in Edgewater will be luxury rentals.  The almost 1,500 new units in Fort Lee will be luxury rentals as well.  Edgewater and Fort Lee rentals will almost double in inventory during the next few years.  Fort Lee’s redevelopment project consists of two halves, one by Fort Lee Development Associates LLC and the other by Tucker Development.  FLRA is building THE MODERN, Bergen County’s tallest residential building, two Fort Lee 47 story glass encased, luxury rental, towers will soar to almost 500 feet.  The Fort Lee residential rental and retail project is estimated to cost half a billion dollars and will include a first class restaurant, a 3 screen movie theatre, museum and 1.75 acre park The first tower is expected to be completed in 2014. Tucker will redevelop the West parcel named Hudson Lights and will feature about 165,000square feet of ground level retail space and almost 500 luxury residential rentals or condo units in two-residential towers.  Tucker is donating a 2,000 square foot space/building to Fort Lee for a historical museum.  All new Fort Lee and Edgewater luxury rental and condo residences will be equipped with gourmet kitchens and contemporary cabinetry with full-size stainless steel appliances, walk-in closets and spacious bathrooms – and of course, spectacular NYC skyline views. Edgewater and Fort Lee renters are drawn to the area since the units are more luxurious with spacious floor plans than their New York City counterparts.  In addition to the skyline views of Manhattan the units boast washers and dryers, terraces or balconies and 9-foot ceilings. Edgewater, Fort Lee, Englewood Cliffs and Englewood all northern New Jersey and Bergen County towns host the large corporate headquarters such as CNBC, LG, Samsung and Unilever.   Further south in Hudson County newer buildings such as The Watermark, Hudson Club, Grandview in nearby towns along the “gold coast” feature amenities such as an on-site business centre with complimentary executive conference room with the latest in high-tech equipment and most important easy transportation to midtown Manhattan.  HOBOKEN, N.J. across from Lower NYC Hoboken RENTALS with easy commute to Manhattan If you work in NYC, lower or mid Manhattan you want to consider to live in Hoboken, N J. Hoboken provides a fast and easy commute to Manhattan via train or ferry to Wall Street, downtown or midtown.   Comparably, Hoboken has lower rents than Manhattan.  Hoboken is ideally located across from Manhattan with the Hudson River crossing to and from downtown Manhattan made simple and easy via ferry or PATH.  Many rentals in Hoboken are to young men and women working in Manhattan and commuting every day. Hoboken was settled by the Dutch in the 17th century and later developed as a waterfront resort in the early 19th century. Known as a hub of busy ports and factories for many years, Hoboken is now home to many New York singles and families and a destination for upscale bars and restaurants. Traveling to Hoboken via Ferry, Train or Bus By NJ Waterway Ferry to Hoboken NJ WATERWAY FERRY to Hoboken/NJ Transit Terminal NJ WATERWAY FERRY to Hoboken 14th Street Terminal By Train to Hoboken PATH TRAIN directly to Hoboken from any Manhattan stop (33rd St., 23rd St., 14th St., 9th St., Christopher St., or World Trade Center). Or - NJ Transit train from Penn Station to Hoboken By Bus to Hoboken NJ Transit bus from Port Authority Bus Terminal to Hoboken. Hoboken Rental Apartments Hoboken Rentals are either the new hi-rise or mid-rise luxury apartment rental buildiings or older pre-war walk-ups similar to those in Manhattan or Brooklyn.   Average Hoboken Rents:   Studios $2,200, 1 Bedrooms $2,600; 2-Bedrooms $2,800; -            3-Bedrooms $3,500. Hoboken, NJ rental buildings The Berkshire and Shipyard The Berkshire and Shipyard are located in one of Hoboken's most desirable neighbourhoods.  Both have spectacular views of the NYC skyline across the Hudson River. New York Harbour, and the Manhattan skyline. Residents of the Shipyard and Berkshire are situated by a waterfront park.  The Shipyard and Berkshire both have 24 hour security, fitness centers and pools. The Jefferson The Jefferson apartment residences have open layouts and 9' 4" high ceilings, including big windows and top-of-the-line appliances. The Jefferson is a short walk to the waterfront promenade and transportation to midtown Manhattan via ferry, bus or train. 333 River Street Features and Amenities   Community Amenities     24 Hour Concierge / Front Desk Service     Available Reserved / Unreserved Indoor Parking     Fitness Center / Weight Room     Bicycle Storage     Aerobics Room     Private Storage Available     Childrens Indoor Outdoor Play Area     On-Site Management     Outdoor Putting Green     On-Site Maintenance     Two Outdoor Sundecks     Laundry Drop / Pick-up Services Available     Residents Lounge with WiFi       Many units with sweeping NYC skyline and Hudson River views!     Pet Policy   Pets, Max 1 allowed, Rent $50 Restrictions: Please call for breed restrictions   800 Madison This is a mid-rise contemporary building with higher price rental units with prices for 1 bedrooms about $2,750, 2 bedrooms about $3,500 and 3 bedrooms about $5,300. Hudson Square Hudson Square is a classic brick Hoboken style mid-rise with a courtyard located in downtown Hoboken.  Easy walk to Path of Ferry from this conveniently located building.  There are 8 types of floor plans from 1-3 bedrooms.  One bedrooms range from 560sf – 690 sf priced from $1,920; Two bedrooms range from 875sf – 980sf priced from $2,600 - $2,900; and Three bedrooms ranging from 1,060sf – 1,283 sf prices ranging about $3,500.  The Archstone Conveniently located at 77 Park Avenue, this standard bearer of well maintained and managed rental buildings has prices from: Studios: $2,400    1 Brs: $2,700   2 Brs: $$3,200      3 Brs: $4,600 Curling Club The Curling Club consists of 2 bedroom 2 bath units with balconies, washer and dryer In the unit, all with hardwood and tile floors.  Amenities include fitness studio, business center and shuttle to Path and Ferry. Prices for the 2 bedroom 2 bath units range from $2,690- $3,200 and are 1,000+sf. Why List with Smart Rentals? The correct way to “police” a listing is to have a plan and a goal; stick with it, monitor it and adjust it if necessary! We have an open line of communication with weekly feedback provided by the agent to the Landlord in order to evaluate market activity and develop strategies. Yes, we “police” your listing. We electronically email a list of comparable properties currently for rent. We keep you up to date on comparable properties Recently Rented. Daily, we follow the supply and demand of comparable units since they will affect price and market activity. The Landlord will be emailed a list of all of the rentals that had a price change, price increase or price reduction. For more information, visit Listing with SmartNJRentals.com. LANDLORD: QUESTIONS FOR THE PROSPECTIVE TENANT 1. Why have you decided to move? You can learn a lot by listening to the tenant.  Look for legitimate reasons for moving like our family is growing, we are pregnant and need more room, relocation, looking to move up, want more security, etc.  Watch out for some red flags for tenant moving like the tenant is arguing with neighbors/super/landlord or domestic issues. 2. What is your ideal moving date? In the event the tenant needs to move quickly, be careful, unless the tenant has been looking but did not find a suitable rental as of yet.  Almost all landlords require 30 days notice.  Be careful if the tenant has just started looking and needs to be relocated in a few days.  Sometimes special circumstances apply, like an illness, divorce/court order or job transfer. 3. What is your monthly or annual income? Qualifying the tenant will save a lot of time.  Sometimes the landlord or building management will have a ratio of 3 to 1 or 4 to 1 regarding income to expenses.  Income takes into consideration all income for the parties responsible for payment taken as a ratio against ALL expenses.  This calculation can be done on a monthly or annual basis. 4.  Can you pay, prior to the Move-in date have the First Month’s Rent, Security Deposit (1.5 months) and Brokers Fee (if applicable)? Generally the tenant will fill out an application that will show bank references and amounts on deposit.  As a general rule never allow a tenant to move-in who can not pay all the fees in advance.  Also, the tenant should be advised of how much they need to pay before they move-in.  5. Who will reside in the house or apartment? It is important all occupants are named on the lease, even the names of the dependent children.  Never take more than two people per bedroom.  Remember, more people, more wear and tear.  Check with the local municipality for restrictions regarding occupancy as they can be a health or safety risk. 6. Can You Provide References From Your Employer and Former Landlord? Try to verify income by first requesting an application and pay stubs or tax returns.  References are also important.  With the internet, do a google search to find out as much as possible about the tenant.  Compare the application with the search to find out if there are any curious differences. 7. Will you consent to a Credit Check? It is imperative you do a credit check on all parties responsible for paying the rent. If a prospective tenant does not consent, then do not consider them!    Please make sure the prospective tenant gives you written permission to run the credit check. Do not accept verbal consent under any conditions.  Also, request a photo ID in the form of a drivers license so that you know whose credit you checked. 8. Have you ever been evicted? If the prospective tenant tells you they were evicted, then look for another applicant unless they have a great reason.  Sometimes the tenant does not tell the truth.  However, a credit check may disclose that information. 9. Do you have any pets? Please make sure there is a clause in the lease regarding pets.  If you have a "no pets" policy then make sure the tenant initials the part of the lease which indicates “no pets”. It is best to ask this question right away in order to eliminate those who do not meet your criteria.  If they have pets, then check the local laws about requesting a “pet deposit” or maybe even charge a few dollars more. 10. Do you want to consult an attorney before signing the Lease? A lease is a legal document, generally with a 3 Day Attorney Review Period.  Advise the prospective tenant of their right to consult an attorney either before or after signing the lease.  Click Here to Search Rentals Now!