The unicorn turned out to be a rotting, diseased animal dressed in a trench coat. First, my neighbor’s leaky radiator caused my roof to get wet (while she was recovering from surgery). Second, my downstairs neighbor’s apartment was then flooded by my radiator. All of our mail was dumped on the basement steps, where it was either stolen or covered in snow due to a dispute between our landlord and the neighborhood post office. Third, we have mentioned below the steps to investigate the next apartment in New York like a reporter.
Steps to Investigate Your Next New York Apartment Like a Reporter
Publicly available information
Unfortunately, you are unlikely to be able to learn the full history of the specific apartment you are interested in. However, finding out more about the building’s previous and current owners is straightforward.
County assessment districts
Each municipality has an appraisal district that assesses unoccupied, commercial and residential buildings to determine their market value. However, the building’s history is what makes this place valuable to potential tenants. ..
Dallas opened an investigation into the Arterra Apartments after receiving complaints from residents about health and safety issues. The city of Dallas found that the complex posed a threat to public safety, and ordered the complex to be closed. ..
The Dallas Central Appraisal District website provides a property search feature that allows users to enter the address of an apartment complex in Dallas County. The account number can be used to access the property history.
If you are looking to rent an apartment that was built in the last few decades, it may be difficult to find information about the property’s history online. You can request information through an open records request, but we recommend waiting until you have signed the lease before doing so. In most cases, you will be able to find recent or current information online. ..
property information
After finding the owner’s name, Google it. I like to use boolean searches when looking for information online. The search results are more useful, in my opinion. 2755 E Ledbetter Hive Partners LLC is the current owner of Arterra Apartments in Dallas. ..
We advise using OpenCorporates, a database that tracks and publishes data about corporations, to find additional company information. Private equity firms sometimes handle their real estate assets behind LLCs, which makes it difficult to determine who actually owns an apartment complex. Private equity firms own many apartments in the US. You can find out when the LLC was established, if it still has a valid business license, and if its name has changed using OpenCorporates.
Other search tools
In some cities, activists and local government agencies work to create searchable databases of potential tenants. In NYC, several of them exist, including: There are several searchable databases of potential tenants in New York City. These include the Tenant Resource Center’s (TRC) database, which is available online; the Mayor’s Office of Housing Preservation and Development’s (HPD) database, which is available in person at HPD offices; and the Department of Homeless Services’ (DHS) database, which is available online. ..
The Public Attorney’s Office released its annual list of the worst property owners in the city. The list includes landlords who have failed to pay their rent on time, property owners who have caused environmental damage, and those who have violated city ordinances. The Public Attorney’s Office released its annual list of the worst property owners in the city. The list includes landlords who have failed to pay their rent on time, property owners who have caused environmental damage, and those who have violated city ordinances. ..
New York City landlords own a majority of the properties in the city, according to recent tenant complaints and show users which properties are theirs.
A bed bug log is a database of bed bug sightings in the United States and Canada. The data is collected by individuals who report their experiences with bed bugs. The log can help identify patterns and trends in the sightings, as well as provide information on the types of bed bugs that are present.
The Democratic Socialists of America (DSA) has released a map of how many properties local landowners own in Chicago. The map shows that many large cities don’t have databases or maps like these, but it’s worth checking if yours does.
Final Words
We hope you enjoy our article on how to Investigate the next apartment in New York like a reporter. Always go see the place in person if possible. Request a tour of the specific unit you wish to rent. It can be tempting to look for housing deals on Craigslist or neighborhood Facebook groups given the rising cost of rent. One approach to confirming this if someone texts you claiming to be a homeowner or real estate agent is to visit the county appraisal district website.
