Some Advice

[chironcentaur]

So Renee and I have found a few places in Eugene we can start applying for, and while filling out the application, we're not quite sure how to handle the year we spent living in the ghetto and would like some advice from the Livejournal Braintrust.

Comments

[eternalhearts]

Now, this is not something I've ever had to deal with, but you should probably put that place on the application, but do not include the phone number--some people will assume they are no longer at that number and you never got the updated one, or they will ask. THAT's when you can briefly explain that you do not want them contacting the slumlord.

Good luck!!

[erl_queen]

That's a really good idea. Avoids lying (in case you get caught in the lie somehow), but gives you a chance to explain your side first.

[erl_queen]

Though really, I bet they will only contact your most recent landlord - I doubt they always go back through your history thoroughly.

[chironcentaur]

Thanks, that ended up being what we went with. Hopefully the explanation won't even be needed. :-)

[chironcentaur]

We went with leaving the phone number off, we have been at our current place for almost two years and there is another landlord they can talk to there if they need a second reference.

I considered being upfront with it, but if I don't have to its probably not the best idea; moving into our current apartment we kind of had to, maybe not this time. If they want to call them and ask for the number, well we'll cross that bridge if we come to it.

And hey, maybe it won't even be that bad. I think a lot of their bullshit had to do with them being used to dealing with people that had no idea what their rights were and so they thought they could do whatever they wanted and intimidate us into giving them money we don't owe them and we'd just roll over and take it. It didn't work, but that's no real reason to still be butthurt over it almost two years later. Not that I'm counting on that or anything, but you would hope...