We Wish This Had Been A Yard Sale

Thanks for the link to that NPR story. Renters frequently get the short end of the legal stick (despite, in my experience, generally being good neighbors and often fiscally responsible people). It would be great to see it become common practice for both renters AND landlords to run credit checks on each other.

Renters do actually have quite good protection in DC. Not a lawyer or expert on this – but having some experience with it – Renters in DC generally have the right to stay in the unit and keep paying rent to the bank or whomever has foreclosed on a property. That is not the case in most states including MD and VA where you could sign a one year lease, move in and one month later find out that you are being evicted because the landlord hasn’t been paying their mortgage and the property was foreclosed on.

Of course, not all tenants know this and may get scared or strong armed into moving out by the bank or new owner.

I would really encourage all renters to make sure that their owner is current with their condo dues. Put a clause in the lease that states that rent can be withheld and the lease can be broken without penalty if the owner fails to stay current with the condo. Many condos are turning off amenities and services to units that are in arrears and the resident is impacted whether they are a tenant or an owner.

Some condo rental agreements include clauses that permit (or require) the tenant to pay the condo dues if the owner is in arrears and deduct that from their rental payments to the landlord. This is a good protection for condo associations to require that such as provision be included in leases that the Board approves.

the photo also begs the question of how to get rid of household items when living downtown. in the ‘burbs, you’d bandy with your neighbors and have a garage sale. one building got creative and held what amounted to a “loading dock sale” which I thought was pure genius.

the only other option is Craigslist or classified ads.

Thanks for the link to that NPR story. Renters frequently get the short end of the legal stick (despite, in my experience, generally being good neighbors and often fiscally responsible people). It would be great to see it become common practice for both renters AND landlords to run credit checks on each other.

As a renter who was tossed out of her apartment in 2006 because her landlord skipped out on his mortgage (he was defaulting on multiple properties at once and then ran to Canada), I can tell you that the most important thing is to know your rights.

DC is pretty friendly to renters. So, when the auction company calls and threatens to put your belongings on the street, don’t panic and rush to move. Instead contact TENAC for guidance. Call the bank holding the property, they’re usually happy to help you transfer your payments to them for a little while while they work out the terms of the sale. Get all the facts before you act.

One other option for getting rid of stuff that you don’t want, isn’t worth selling, but is perfectly useable is “Freecycling”. It can be a somewhat strange concept for some, and a little long to explain here, but if you google Freecycle or go to http://www.freecycle.org you can get the picture.

The general idea is its an effort to keep perfectly good things out of landfills so if you have something you don’t want you post it and if someone happens to want or need that specific item they reply and come by to pick it up. Since its free, no need to meet the person to exchange cash or anything, just leave it at the front desk of your condo or on your front porch and they come and take it.

I know it sounds strange to some but it works pretty well.