Landlord Tenant Handbook

Landlord Tenant Questionnaire for Tenants

Name of Tenant: Street Address, Unit #: City/Zip Code:

Telephone/Day: Telephone/Evening: Cell Phone/Pager:

Primary Language:

Is Any Member of Household Pregnant? Yes No Don’t know

Total # of Occupants: Total # of Children Under 6 Years Old:

Section 8 or Other Subsidy? Yes No

Current Amount of Monthly Rent Paid:

LIST ALL OCCUPANTS

Name: Relationship: Date(s) of Birth:

Name: Relationship: Date(s) of Birth:

Name: Relationship: Date(s) of Birth:

Name: Relationship: Date(s) of Birth:

Name: Relationship: Date(s) of Birth:

Do you have a lease? Yes No If yes, is the lease: written oral

WRITTEN LEASES

What is the term of your lease? Is your name on the lease? Yes No

If no, whose name is on the lease?

Are you subletting the apartment? Yes No If yes, was it approved? Yes No

Do you pay the rent? Yes No If no, who pays the rent?

When do you pay rent?

Did you pay a security deposit when you moved in? Yes No

Has the landlord paid interest on the deposit each year? Yes No D/K Some years When last paid?

Has the landlord tried to remove you or your belongings? Yes No

Has the landlord/sheriff given you any notices? Yes No

When did you get the notice? How was the notice given to you? What type of a notice was it?

Why was there no cure?

Why was the notice given?

Is this your first notice? Yes No If no, explain other notices

Have you had a hearing over this notice? Yes No

If yes, what was the result?

Have you been to court over this issue/notice? Yes No

If yes, what was the result?

Have you been in court before with this landlord? Yes No

If yes, when were you in court before? Do you have a court date for this action? Yes No If yes, in which court is the proceeding?

ORAL LEASES

Is the term of your lease longer than one year? Yes No If yes, when did you sign the lease?

Do you pay the rent? Yes No If no, who pays the rent?

When do you pay rent?

Did you pay a security deposit when you moved in? Yes No

Has the landlord tried to remove you or your belongings? Yes No

Has the landlord/sheriff given you any notices? Yes No

When did you get the notice? How was the notice given to you?

What type of a notice was it?

Why was there no cure?

Why was the notice given?

Is this your first notice from the landlord/sheriff? Yes No If no, explain other notices

Have you contacted anyone about the notice? Yes No If yes, who?

Have you had a hearing over this notice? Yes No

If yes, what was the result?

Have you been to court over this issue/notice? Yes No

If yes, what was the result?

Have you been in court before with this landlord? Yes No If yes, when were you in court before?

Do you have a court date for this action? Yes No If yes, in which court is the proceeding?

NO LEASE

Did you ever have a lease for this apartment? Yes No

If no, did you have an oral agreement? Yes No

If no, do you pay rent each month? Yes No

Did you move in with someone who was already living there? Yes No If yes, who?

When was the unit last vacant? Was it vacant when you moved in? Yes No

Did you take over the unit from another tenant, rather than having the landlord rent the unit out? Yes No If yes, who?

Do any of the original people still live there? Yes No If yes, who?

Does the landlord know you live there? Yes No

Do you negotiate with the landlord regarding issues at the building? Yes No

Did the tenant who had a direct contractual relationship with the landlord ever tell the landlord in writing that you were there? Yes No

Ever mention your name in writing? Yes No

Did the landlord accept rent after that? Yes No From you? Yes No

Did your lease for this apartment expire? Yes No

If no, why isn’t there a lease?

Are you still living in the apartment? Yes No

Is your property still in the apartment? Yes No If yes, how long has it been there?

Has the landlord tried to remove you or your property? Yes No

Has the landlord/sheriff given you any notices? Yes No

When did you get the notice? How was the notice given to you?

What type of a notice was it?

Why was there no cure?

Why was the notice given?

Is this your first notice from the landlord/sheriff? Yes No If no, explain other notices

Have you contacted anyone about the notice? Yes No If yes, who?

Have you had a hearing over this notice? Yes No

If yes, what was the result?

Have you been to court over this issue/notice? Yes No

If yes, what was the result?

Have you been in court before with this landlord? Yes No

If yes, when were you in court before? Do you have a court date for this action? Yes No If yes, in which court is the proceeding?

COMPLAINT

What is the nature of your complaint?

Have your personal belongings removed? Yes No

If yes, do you know where the property is now located? Yes No

If yes, have you asked the landlord about getting your property back? Yes No

Have your personal belongings been damaged? Yes No If yes, explain the damage

What was the reason for the removal or damage of your belongings?

How would you like the problem resolved?

Is there a specific problem with the apartment? Yes No If yes, describe

Did you know of any of these problems before you moved in? Yes No

If no, have you notified your landlord of the problems you are having with your apartment? Yes No

If yes, how did you notify your landlord?

Are you able to live in your apartment? Yes No

Have you ever decided not to pay rent because of the condition of your apartment? Yes No

Did you speak with an authority figure about the problems you have with your apartment? Yes No

Have you reported the landlord to the City Housing Inspector? Yes No

If yes, when did you make the report? How did you make your report?

Has anyone responded to your complaint? Yes No

Does your apartment need any repairs? Yes No

If yes, what needs to be repaired?

What caused the damage that needs the repair?

How long has the repair been needed?

Have you told your landlord that a repair was needed? Yes No If yes, when did you tell him you needed repairs made?

Has your apartment been repaired in the past? Yes No If yes, explain the repairs made

Do you owe any rent on the apartment? Yes No

How would you like the problem resolved?

EVICTION

Have you received any documents from the landlord/sheriff? Yes No

If yes, what type of document was it?

Before you got the summons, did you get any notice(s)? Yes No

How many notices did you receive? When did you receive it/them?

How did you receive the notice(s)? Posted/taped to door In mail Handed to Other

What type(s) of notice(s) did you get? 3-day 10-day 14-day 30-day 60-day 90-day

What reason was given in the notice(s)?

If nonpayment, how much rent demanded?

What is your response?

Are any of the allegations true? Yes No If amount not correct, do you have proof of payment? Yes No

Have you received any documents from the court? Yes No

Why do you believe you will be evicted?

Have you received a summons for small claims court? Yes No If yes, what is the date of the hearing?

Have you already attended a hearing regarding the eviction? Yes No If yes, what was the result?

Have you been to court? Yes No If yes, what was the result?

If no do you have a court date? Yes No

Have you been in court with this landlord before? Yes No If yes, when were you in court?

How would you like to resolve this problem?

SECURITY DEPOSITS

Did you pay a security deposit when you moved in? Yes No If no, who paid the security deposit?

Do you have a receipt for your security deposit? Yes No

Are you going to move out of the apartment? Yes No

If yes, did you tell your landlord you were moving? Yes No

Have you already moved out of the apartment? Yes No

If yes, did you give your landlord notice in writing of your new address? Yes No

Has your landlord kept your security deposit? Yes No

If yes, how long has it been since you moved out?

If yes, did the landlord give you a letter indicating why he kept the security deposit? Yes No

If yes, did the landlord give you a detailed list of all the damages with the apartment when you moved out? Yes No

If yes, why did the landlord say he is keeping the security deposit?

Do you agree that you owe money on the apartment? Yes No If yes, why didn’t you pay?

If no, do you have records or receipts that you paid? Yes No

Did you ever complain to the landlord about the condition of your apartment? Yes No If yes, when did you complain? If yes, how did you complain?

Did the landlord respond to your complaints? Yes No

Were there problems the landlord didn’t repair? Yes No

How would you like to resolve this problem?

RENT PAYMENTS

How much was the rent when you first moved in? $ per due on

How much is your current rent? $ per due on

When do you pay rent?

How do you pay rent? Check Cash Money Order/Cashier’s check Other

Do you get receipts from landlord? Yes No Sometimes

Did you save them? Yes No Sometimes

Can you get your cancelled checks? Yes No

Rent History:

Date Increase $

Date Increase $

Date Increase $

Date Increase $

If not sure of rent history, can you bring in notices of rent increase or other documents (such as receipts) to show date and amount of each rent increase? Yes No

Did you serve a written 30-day notice of each rent increase(s)? Yes No

(Regardless of grounds for notice) How much rent is owed now? owed through

If any rent unpaid, why wasn’t rent paid on time?

BREACH OF THE WARRANTY OF HABITABILITY

infestation of rodents/cockroaches/insects defective plumbing roof leaks

damp walls falling plaster/sheet rock peeling paint cracks

missing or defective smoke detectors unsafe stairways/railings

defective electrical system inadequate heat inadequate security

holes in walls floors in disrepair

windows leak air/don’t seal/don’t open properly gaps around doors

inadequate trash receptacles/collection common areas unclean

defective appliances no secure mail receptacle inadequate hot water

Other

Did you ask the landlord/agent to make repairs (actual notice)? Yes No

Did the landlord/agent have reason to know about the problems (constructive notice)? Yes No

Were repairs made? Yes No

REPAIR AND DEDUCT

Did you make or pay for repairs? Yes No

If yes, does the landlord know? Yes No D/K

Did the landlord give you credit? Yes No

Did you ask for credit? Yes No If yes, when? How much money? $

TENDER OF RENT

Did you offer to pay any rent before expiration of notice which the landlord/agent wouldn’t accept or returned to you? Yes No

If yes, when? Amount offered: Form and manner of tender

WAIVER

Did your landlord/agent do anything to cancel or contradict the notice upon which this action is based, such as:

Say you could ignore it? Tell you payment could be made after its expiration?

Tell you he/she would accept payment plan for amount demanded? Give you another notice after it?

Say you could have more time? Other

Has the landlord/agent accepted rent from you after the notice(s) to quit expired? Yes No If yes, amount $

Rent for what period? Form, date, and manner of payment

Has the landlord/agent ever:

Allowed you to pay rent late? Yes No

Let you get behind in payments and get caught up? Yes No

Let you breach the covenant (if applicable)? Yes No If yes, explain

Other:

RETALIATION

Do you think the landlord/agent is retaliating against you for asserting your rights as a tenant? Yes No If yes, why?:

For demanding repairs For calling inspectors For going to Rent Board Other

When did you call inspectors or go to Rent Board?

DISCRIMINATION

Do you think the landlord/agent is discriminating against you? Yes No If yes, on what basis?:

Race sex national origin HIV status marital status sexual orientation age occupation having children disability Other

MISCELLANEOUS

Have you ever been harassed by the landlord/agent? Yes No

If yes: Verbal harassment Physical harassment Sexual harassment Entry without notice Interferes with mail Interferes with guests

Do you have problems with any of the following on the property? Excessive noise Drug dealing Prostitution Abusive neighbors

WHO HAVE YOU ALREADY NOTIFIED?

Resident Manager Date Verbal Writing

Property Manager Date Verbal Writing

Property Owner Date Verbal Writing

Conflict Resolution and Mediation Center Date Verbal Writing

Other: Date Verbal Writing