Cheat Sheets: Tips for the Prospective Renter

•Ask around. If a friend lives in a place they like, there may be units available even if they aren’t advertised.

•Call the Health Department and check if there area any uncorrected complaints against the property (Eau Claire: 839-4718; Chippewa Falls: 723-5542; Menomonie: 232-2388)

•Get the name of a possible landlord and run it through WI Circuit Court Access (http://wcca.wicourts.gov/) to see if he/she has a clean record.

•The Eau Claire Police Department has developed a voluntary landlord certification program. See if your landlord is certified, as it shows a dedication to what they do. (www.cvtc.edu/landlords/directory.htm)

•Never sign a lease without seeing the apartment – especially in complexes where “all the apartments are the same” and they keep a clean one on hand to show people like you.

•Read any and all lease paperwork and make sure all your questions are answered before you sign anything.

•A one-page lease could be a red flag. The more paperwork, the better. Tenant and landlord responsibilities should be clearly defined.

•Good landlords enjoy answering questions. They want tenants who care about their living space.