Old Landlord Giving Bad Reference for No Reason

[blahbleebloo]

What is the name of your state? CA

Hello, my sister lives in Grass Valley, CA and is attempting to rent an apartment for her family of 4. They are living with my father currently, and because they finally have a stable income, they applied to income based housing. Their application went through except for when the rental property contacted my sister's husband's previous landlord, the landlord apparently gave a hideous reference and they were declined.

I have two questions. First, what rights do my sister and her husband have in regards to finding out what the previous landlord said? Second, the only problem that he had in that previous place was that he didn't give enough notice before vacating the apartment. He got his deposit back and left the apartment cleaner then he found it (it was a pretty bad slum place. In fact to this day, the landlord doesn't keep things to code). Can they go back to the new rental property and plead their case?

I would appreciate any help you can offer in this matter.

 

[moburkes]

What were the "apparently" hideous remarks that he made?

Sorry. I realized that I didn't read the whole thing. The landlord is allowed to make true statements. Obviously they can ask what was bad about the reference.

 

[blahbleebloo]

What are my sister's recourses if she were to find out that what the landlord said was not true?

We don't know exactly what was said, but my sister and her husband are fairly certain that there were no other problems other than the not giving enough notice. Especially since they got their deposit back.

 

[moburkes]

What are my sister's recourses if she were to find out that what the landlord said was not true?

We don't know exactly what was said, but my sister and her husband are fairly certain that there were no other problems other than the not giving enough notice. Especially since they got their deposit back.

I can't imagine that he lied, but start with asking the current place WHY they declined the application. It would only take a phone call. Maybe they don't want to rent to someone who doesn't give notice.

 

[Alaska landlord]

There is always a reason. Not giving proper notice is one of them. The only thing the old landlord had to say to mess up your sisters plans were that he would never rent to her again. Have her not give him as a reference again.

 

[blahbleebloo]

Well she found out that the landlord told them that he still owed them money, which is untrue. I told my sister to call the old landlord and get a statement of what they owe (which should should be nothing, considering that they got their deposit back). If they can prove that the landlord lied, do they have any recourse?

 

[Cvillecpm]

First, what rights do my sister and her husband have in regards to finding out what the previous landlord said?

Absolutely nothing.

Second, the only problem that he had in that previous place was that he didn't give enough notice before vacating the apartment.

Then they did not follow their lease.

BECAUSE the apt complex is subsidized BY TAX DOLLARS, mgmt needs to be VERY CAREFUL who they rent to. Your sister needs to find housing with a private landlord who won't be so thorough on their screening efforts.

 

[blahbleebloo]

In this case though, they were up front with management of the new property about not giving notice to the previous landlord, and they were fine with it. They had even said yesterday that they were as good as in as long as the old landlord didn't have anything else bad to say.

Then the old landlord lied and said that they still owed money, even though the full deposit was refunded when they moved out, and my brother in law has every rent receipt for every month he lived there. I guess my main question is that is there any way that my sister can dispute this with the new property? She's heartbroken that she can't move her family into these apartments.

 

[FarmerJ]

Has this family member checked county court judgement records to see if the former LL did get a judgement against them ? If a printout can be done at county govt center showing there is no judgement or court related reccord in place perhaps they can convince the manager to reconsider.