Identifying Bogus Prospective Tenants

Some experience to be shared regarding tenants screening

1)Tenants who wants to move in hastily.

Be cautious. They might have been told to leave by their current landlords / chief tenants for reasons such as unsatisfactory payment , untidy habits , bad characters (intolerate).

If one is told to leave by the current current landlords / chief tenants, they won't be any better than before. My experience is to reject outright. Give 'em nice reasons, such as the house had been rented out.

Can even quote them an unreasonable rental rate, just to scare them away.

2)Tenants who negotiates to pay security & utilities deposits by instalment

This should be the last mistake to commit. One can NEVER rent a house to a total stranger, whom you just met for minutes, and trust them will pay the deposits according to the instalment schedule.

I committed this mistake by trusting the bogus tenant called Yogeswary A/P M Maniam. Not even lost 1.5 months rental uncollected, my ceiling fans, water heater and cabinet also stolen by her.

If the prospect cannot even afford to pay the security and utilities deposit, upfront and earnestly, is any landlord willing to take a chance, in case they won't ran away with whatever moveable ?

The following must be paid in full upon handing over of the unit (ie handing over the keys)

a) 2 months security deposit
b) 1/2 month utilities deposit
c) 1 month advance rental
d) Fee for preparing and stamping of the tenancy agreement

3)Do a checklist for all fixtures and fittings and run through them item by item with the tenant.
Must have the tenant to sign on the inventory list, in duplicate and be bound together with the tenancy agreement.

Beware of This Horrible Tenant Called YOGESWARY A/P M. MANIAM (810618-14-5346) H/P 019 – 234 3544

Calling for attention of landlords at PJ area, especially owners of low cost flats / medium costs apartments at Flora Damansara and surrounding areas.

Two remote-controlled ceiling fans (gold in colour), a Euro Uno water heater, a cabinet with 8 drawers and a shoe rack were all MISSING (or perhaps I should term it as STOLEN FROM THE UNIT) after she moved out quietly without formally informed me and without even handed me back the keys of the unit!

WTF! The worst and the stupidest decision I ever made was to let her pay just 1 month security deposit upfront and the balance of 1 month and half month utilities deposit were allowed to be paid by instalment!!

Landlord , DON'T ever trust these buggers will keep their promise. Highly likely they won't.

If this tenant called Yogeswary can delayed 2 months instalmemt on her OLD Proton Wira, don't think she treats other financial commitments seriously ! For all her 5-month stay at the flat, she DIDN'T pay a sinle cent of electricity at all !!! OMA

Below are the losses that I suffered :
March 2010 rental = RM250 (she paid partial)
TNB bills = RM160
Water bill = RM100
Indah Water = RM10 (RM2 * 5 months)
Ceiling fan = RM278
Installation cost = RM40 (for 2)
Water heater = RM209
Installation cost = RM20
Cabinet = RM200
Shoe rack = RM10

Total = RM1,277

Minus security deposit collected = RM450+200 = RM650

Net loss = RM627

Note : One of the walls in the living room was dirty as they lit oil lamp & joss stick, essence as offering to their statue of god.

Funny enough. they fled without bringing their gods' framed pictures! What a lousy fler!