Renting in 2015

Space Pickle

After years of staying at home/with family, I'm looking at renting an apartment. I have rented before several times and am struggling a bit with some of the demands potential landlords are making (I am looking to rent somebody's basement, not live in an apartment complex). Many of the craigslist listings ask for some or all of the following:

• my credit report
• references
• a letter from my employer stating that I do in fact have a job
• copies of my pay stubs (I guess to confirm my salary?)
• my social insurance number and driver's license info
• a police background check

I'm very surprised. I last rented in 2009 and never had to deal with any of this stuff, you would just arrange to view the place and speak to the landlord a bit. It's understandable that people want some assurances when letting a stranger into their home, but I feel that some of those requests are a bit much. References aren't too big a deal, but I'm not for example comfortable giving out my SIN to some guy.

I was just wondering if people could chime in and tell me if times really have changed and this is the way things are going now. I'm going to expand my search to other areas as well.

Eat it You Nasty Pig.

it's a landlord's market at the moment (at least, in lots of urban areas), so they have the ability to ask for more

a letter from your employer is a bit much, but I have had places ask for pay stubs/references/driver's license and to consent to a background check

Eat it You Nasty Pig.

that being said I would not give my social security number to a landlord (is that equivalent to SIN for you guys?)

Space Pickle

I think so. SIN is social insurance number (I'm Canadian).

Enc

If you have to give that information, better to do so with a licensed management company than a craigslist add. You might pay a bit more but at least they will be bonded for security of your information.

AnarCHris

My wife and I just signed a lease on our new place back in Feb. We went through an agency (ouch-my wallet) And had to show 2 recent pay stubs, SSID/Driver's license, and a credit report, which was easy enough.

minirhyder

Credit score/report, two recent paystubs, and government issued ID are pretty much the standard (in cities, at least) at the moment.

References, SSN/SIN, and police background...is a bit weird. I would definitely shy away from giving it to some guy on Craigslist.

SatanIsMyMotor

Absolutely do not give them your SIN. They don't have a right to ask for it nor is it relevant to them at all.

For reference: http://www.servicecanada.gc.ca/eng/sin/protect/provide.shtml

Al_wat

yeah seriously DO NOT give your SIN out.

some of that stuff they ask for can be a pain in the ass; but par for the course. Credit, references, employment confirmation, etc.

Police background check seems a bit much.

Space Pickle

I understand why they want they want the SIN (so they can do their own credit check on me) but I just don't want to give it out.

Thanks for that link. I didn't realize it was going to be so difficult to find a place. I am a school teacher and hoping to move in the first week of September.

minirhyder

They can get your credit report through other means, including you doing it yourself and sending it over.

Frankly, any landlord who is that demanding to begin with is probably a shitlord with other things as well, so I'd say move on.

kaliyama

Where are you located?

Space Pickle

Greater Toronto Area. Specifically I need a place in Richmond Hill, Vaughn, or Markham.

Space Pickle

Somebody just asked for my passport.

minirhyder

Christ, I haven't had this much trouble getting a place in NYC.

What's up, Canada?

Figgy

Craigslist seems to be your problem. Use the classifieds?