Well, there are cases where people moved into a rent - to - own property thinking it was in good condition. But as time passed, they discovered major structural issues. The landlord then expected the tenant, who was planning to own it, to bear all the costs of repair. This is a real nightmare as they had already invested a lot in the rent thinking it was going towards their future home.
One horror story could be that the tenant pays a large amount in rent towards the purchase but at the end, the landlord finds a loophole in the contract and refuses to sell. For example, they claim some minor repairs were not done as per the agreement which were not even clearly stated.
A common rent to own horror story is when the rent increases significantly during the rental period with the intention of making it difficult for the tenant to continue the deal. Say, the initial rent was affordable but after a year, it went up so much that the tenant could no longer afford it and they had already put in a non - refundable deposit. So they lost their money and their hope of owning the place.
Before signing a rent - to - own agreement, get a proper inspection of the property done. This way, you can avoid getting into a situation where you discover major problems later and are expected to pay for them. Also, check the reputation of the landlord or the company offering the rent - to - own deal.
One horror story could be receiving a dress that was completely different from what was shown online. Maybe it was a different color or had major stains on it.
One rent control horror story is when landlords stop maintaining properties properly. Since they can't increase rent significantly, they cut back on things like repairs. Tenants end up living in places with leaky roofs or broken heating systems. Another is that new renters may find it extremely difficult to find an available unit as landlords are more likely to keep existing tenants at a lower rent rather than taking on new ones.
One horror story could be getting a car that breaks down in the middle of a long trip. You're stranded on a lonely road, waiting for hours for help. Another might be finding out the car has some really bad smell that won't go away, like someone smoked in it heavily or there was a spill that wasn't cleaned properly. And there could be cases where the rental car had hidden damages that were blamed on the customer, resulting in extra charges.
There was a case where a person rented a friend to accompany them on a trip. The 'rented friend' was constantly moody and made the whole trip miserable. They would complain all the time, refused to do any activities the renter wanted to do, and even spread false rumors about the renter among other travelers, ruining the renter's reputation among the new people they met.
One key element is financial discipline. In rent - to - own cases, tenants need to be able to budget well and make regular payments on time. Another important aspect is the condition of the property. If it's in good shape, it's more likely to lead to a success story. For example, if there are no major hidden repairs that come up during the rent - to - own period.
A young entrepreneur had a similar positive experience. He was starting his business and didn't have a large sum for a property purchase. Through a rent - to - own arrangement on a small commercial space, he was able to use the space for his business operations. As his business grew, he was able to meet the terms of the rent - to - own contract and bought the property. This not only secured his business location but also became a valuable investment as the area developed.
Well, I heard of a rent - a - friend horror story where the so - called friend was constantly trying to get the renter involved in illegal activities. They pressured the renter to do things like shoplifting. Also, there was a situation where a rented friend showed up drunk all the time and made a mess in the renter's place. It was really unpleasant. The last one I can think of is when a rented friend was overly clingy. They would follow the renter everywhere and not respect their personal space, which made the renter feel very uncomfortable and trapped.
Well, a lot of horror stories involve miscommunication. Rent a Center employees might not clearly explain the terms of the rental. So, customers end up owing more than they expected. There are also stories of the company being overly aggressive with collections. They might call at all hours or be really pushy, even if the customer is just a few days behind on payment. Also, some people have rented furniture that was dirty or damaged when it arrived, but they were still charged the full price.
A couple decided to do rent - to - rent. They found an old house in a trendy neighborhood. They completely renovated the kitchen and bathrooms. They then furnished it with modern and stylish furniture. They leased it out for short - term rentals, especially for tourists. Since it was in a great location and looked amazing, they were fully booked most of the time. Their income from sub - leasing was far more than the rent they paid, making it a great success.