A Pasadena homeowner tells her story about a tenant whose behavior grew increasingly aggressive and calculated, leading to a lengthy eviction process. Hetty Chang reports for the NBC4 News at 11 p.m. on Monday, Feb. 2, 2015.
A Pasadena homeowner said she learned how long and hard it was to kick out hostile renters after a 26-day ordeal.
She dealt with aggressive, thieving tenants who made her life increasingly costly and stressful.
Here's what you can do to try to avoid a similar situation in your own home:
- Ask renters to fill out a rental application and conduct background checks;
- An "application to rent" asks prospective tenants for previous housing information and employment/financial information. It also asks the simple question: Have you ever been evicted or asked to move?
- Websites like tenantbackgroundsearch.com offer a tenant screening service for as little as $20 per report;
- The Apartment Association of Greater Los Angeles also allows landlords to screen tenants without joining the association;
- When it comes to legal documents, don’t do it yourself. Hire a real estate attorney to help handle all legal documents.
