Credit Score May Reflect Bad Rent History, but Not Good One

Edited questions from Apartment Life, Sara Gebhardt's online discussion about rental issues.

Q: Ellicott City: I rent a townhouse from a private owner. How would I report it to the credit bureaus in order to help my credit scores? Unlike with professional management, I am renting from an individual who owns the house, so, there is no signed agreement.

A: Rental payments do not usually factor into a credit score. A good rental history is not officially tracked by credit bureaus. However, unpaid rent might hurt your credit if your landlord sends your debt to collections. In terms of rental history -- which will help you land your next apartment -- there is no difference between an individual landlord and a professional management company's ability to vouch for you.

Arlington: I need advice on the cigarette smoke seeping in from adjoining condo units. This smoke is coming up from the unit directly below us. Our manager said we can file a complaint, but I don't know where that will lead. What do you think our options include?

Did you ask what your options were? That's the easiest way to satisfy your curiosity. If you file a complaint, the landlord will perhaps talk to your neighbors about their smoking habits. Perhaps if the unit is privately owned, the landlord has a non-smoking rule, or maybe the condo property is hoping to install a non-smoking rule. It's unclear, really.

If you live in an apartment community with a single managing entity, then you might have the option of moving apartments to get away from the smoke. Your best bet is to discuss the issue with your landlord and your neighbors.

Worcester, Mass.: I am a recent college graduate and am beginning a new job in Fairfax at the end of the month. I have never been in Virginia before. What are some areas I could look for affordable apartments and that would not mean a long commute to work? Are there any areas I should avoid because they are bad areas with crime?

It's helpful to ask around before moving blindly to a new city. Ask future co-workers, friends, relatives and friends of friends about neighborhoods, apartments, and commute times. You can research crime by contacting local police stations, and reading local news and crime statistics. You could also set up a short-term situation to help allay some of your worries and give you more time before you jump into a lease.

Fairfax: I have a beef with tenants who use the phrase "my apartment." It isn't your apartment. A landlord can say "my apartment." They actually legally own it. Tenants have no ownership rights. Just review your state's legislation on tenant-landlord agreements. It amazes me how many people sign a lease and think the place is theirs. They hammer nails in the walls, they paint the walls, they destroy the carpets, they break the appliances. When you sign the lease, you accept the responsibility of becoming the caretaker of the landlord's property. If you don't return it in the same condition that you accepted per your signature on the lease agreement, you will be charged.

Interesting comment. I am not sure the usage "my apartment" when one is renting the space and inhabiting it is totally off base. It's simply a way to communicate a lease agreement. I do agree that renters should be aware that signing a lease (and thereby earning the right to call a rental property home) does not absolve them from the responsibility of caring for that property.

Sara Gebhardt's Apartment Life column appears biweekly in this section, and her Web chat appears monthly on http://www.washingtonpost.com.