How to get an apartment lease/rental after BK 7?

[AngelinaCat]

I have State Farm for my auto and life...so you're saying they won't give me renter's insurance?!?!

They may do it, they may not. We have auto insurance with Allstate and have had it for more than 25 years. That said, once we tried to get Homeowner's with them, we couldn't even get a quote. Remember that we have Homeowners, and haven't needed to get rental insurance.

[AngelinaCat]

Here is the link to a thread concerning Homeowner's insurance that I participated in. Actually, a 'rant' is more like it. My posts start at #6.

http://www.bkforum.com/showthread.php?34621-Can-t-get-homeowner-s-insurance-after-BK&highlight=insurance%20angelincat

When I/we were going through all of this, State Farm was pulling out of our state, so we never considered them.

As I said before, this thread is about a group of homeowners attempting to get/renew their existing policies. I do not know how much, if any differences there are with Rental policies.

I hope this helps, and good wishes to you!

[tazunemono]

OK this isn't working for me...2 more rejections. One lady I talked to said she found I owed Bailey Property co money. I told her I did not as it was included in my BK. She didn't like that answer and thought I should pay it before she would rent to me. She didn't get the BK 7 process.

Now, I have some more questions...on "most" apps they ask the following, how best to respond?

Have you ever:

Filed for Bankruptcy? Answer would be 'Yes' obviously, do I put ch7 or ch13? Any more info to include?
Been Evicted? No
Do you own money to any previous apartment? I am unsure how to answer this...do I say 'Yes but is included in the bankruptcy' or do I just say 'No' ... technically both answers are correct.
Been Sued? No
Been Convicted of a Crime? No

Explain any "Yes" above

[SMinGA2]

Before you even fill out an application - ask about their rental guidelines. IF its an apartment complex or some other rental that is bound by a management company they should have written guidelines. Without paying an application fee, you should be able to discuss the general situation you are dealing with. You're not asking for a pre-approval but the opposite. Say 'I previously defaulted on a lease agreement and subsequently filed bankruptcy - does that rule me out or is it possible to pay extra security deposit?' If they automatically say 'we can't rent to anyone who has ever had a bankruptcy' then you should be able to figure that out without wasting an app fee.

In general though, if asked a yes or no question: the answer would be YES or NO. In the 'explain' section you could put a simple explanation as to your financial past. Lost job, was unemployed for X amount of time, now gainfully employed. As to 'do you owe money' if it was discharged in bankruptcy, then you do not. For someone who has not yet filed or not yet been discharged, it would be a touchy area.

[tazunemono]

In the 'explain' section you could put a simple explanation as to your financial past. Lost job, was unemployed for X amount of time, now gainfully employed. As to 'do you owe money' if it was discharged in bankruptcy, then you do not. For someone who has not yet filed or not yet been discharged, it would be a touchy area.

I think this works better than writing a long letter that only serves to "red-flag" me even further...after all, I have the income and everything else "desirable"

This place even wants me to pull my own credit report - so I'm going to pick the one that looks the best!

Wish me luck

[tazunemono]

Does it matter which bureau I pull? I am going to send the Experian report as it doesn't list the apartment collections - that's on Equifax and TransUnion.

[bcohen]

OK this isn't working for me...2 more rejections. One lady I talked to said she found I owed Bailey Property co money. I told her I did not as it was included in my BK. She didn't like that answer and thought I should pay it before she would rent to me. She didn't get the BK 7 process.

You have been denied housing opportunity because of negative information provided by some credit bureau or tenant screening servie. You have a legal right to know the name and address of whatever reporting agency provided this negative information, and you can then write to them, request a copy of your report, and dispute the alleged balance owed on the grounds that the debt was discharged in bankrupty, and they should remove it. Once the debt has been discharged in bankruptcy, you DO NOT OWE IT, and any credit bureau/tenant screening service which is reporting this as an outstanding debt with a balance owed is violating the discharge order!

[tazunemono]

OK FINALLY I have a few leads on apartments...here's the deal:

Apartment #1: BK 7 is OK, but MUST be discharged first. My 341 hearing is Tuesday so I'm 60+ days out fro D/C - REALLY nice place
Apartment #2: BK 7 is OK, but must include a letter from my attorney (I'm pro se) that they will not be included in the action - OK place
Apartment #3: BK 7 is OK, they don't care as long as other criteria are met but they need rental history (I have none) - a little ghetto, but livable for a year

I suppose I'll pursue all 3 because I'm desperate for a place. All three are 2 bedroom apartments with major complexes (100+ units, pools, etc.). I also have one app out with a small private company that has 10 units (I wrote a letter to this one)

Thoughts? Advice?

[bcohen]

Ok, so the debt is still showing as owed because you have not been discharged yet. I had thought you were already discharged. After discharge, the debt will be zero'd out, and your opportunities will improve.

[tazunemono]

I GOT A PLACE!!! Thanks everyone for the help and support! Found a nice 2br by sending in 6 paycheck stubs, a copy of my "best" credit report, and a letter stating my situation. Was a small property management company (a division of a much larger building company). Yes!

[Drazil65]

Awesome! Great job and Good Luck!

[Bell30656]

A year from now, you will have 12 copies front and back of rent payment checks. The best reference a prospective tenant can provide.

[Tater]

Good news, enjoy your new place!!

[basketsbears]

Congrats!