No rental contract?

[Cruz91]

OK... I've reserved a townhome at WH for this coming Christmas (through VRBO.com) and the owner said he doesn't usually mess with rental contracts. He said in 4 or 5 years of renting, he's only had one or two issues with a guest. I can understand that rental contracts mostly protect the owner, but what is the risk for me by not having one?

Other considerations... I have done a lot of homework on the condo, and I'm very comfortable the person I sent my deposit to is in fact the owner. Checked the tax website and he's listed there as such. I was also able to find the owner on LinkedIn, and from that found a number of other public connections to him (i.e., I know he's a physician, owns his own practice, etc). He did offer to put something in writing, though. So - to me, it really does appear that he just doesn't want to waste time with the contract, so I'm o.k. with it. Should I be concerned?

TIA!

 

[softballmom3]

I completely understand where you are coming from! We rented a condo in Gulf Shores once from vrbo where they did not have a rental contract and that was the first time I had come across that and was really leary. Long story short....everything went fine, no problems at all. I know this probably doesn't alleviate any of your stress over the situation but at least now you know others have done the same thing .

 

[sympatico]

A couple of times that we have rented there was no contract either and things went well. If you plan to get cancellation insurance they require that you have a rental contract.

 

[Frothy]

You've got to be nuts to do this without a contract. Contracts protect both sides. What if something goes wrong? What if you have an accident? What if there is negligence?

Worse case scenario: If you don't have a contract it's going to be very difficult to stand in Court and argue your case.

 

[Detailor]

I'm not sure why you'd need a contract. They usually outline who's staying and when, payment and cancellation information, how damages are handled, how/if any damage deposit will be returned, permissible usage of appliances, pool, etc., at the home, and advise that the owners aren't responsible for accidents, property loss, and the such.

It seems to me that the lack of such a document would open the owners up to greater liability than if they had an agreement in place. The way that I figure it a stay at a rental home without a contract in place is a lot like staying at a hotel for a week - where you also don't get a formal contract.

We had no contract in place with the owner of a house that we rented in the Disney area a few years ago but both of us had a paper trail through email which outlined what was being rented and what the owner's rules were. And that worked out just fine.

Dick Taylor

 

[rewok]

Some people I know rented their condo for years, with no contract, self cleaning, and honour system! They never ran into big problems with renters, only once did they drive down to check on things after a guest departure, because they had a "bad feeling". They were right, nothing had been cleaned and there was trash on the countertops and all! Those were real legitimate folks, who did all the work themselves.

I understand a contract seems like it can protect you, but really, if the house/owner turns out fake, not ready, in bad shape, it won't help you find somewhere else to sleep or get back your money without a loss of hassle. And if I'm not mistaken (I'm Canadian, but think it's the same in the US), a verbal contract is as valid as a written one if you are willing to go to court, just a bit harder to prove (on both sides might I say). Your best protection comes from what you already did: checking that this owner seems legitimate.

 

[Cruz91]

Thanks to all for the feedback.

John D. Rockefeller, Jr. once said "I believe in the sacredness of a promise, that a man's word should be as good as his bond; that character - not wealth or power or position - is of supreme worth."

I guess you could say I have a lot to risk by not having a contract, but I have enough faith in humanity to take that risk.

 

[Pineapple Whip]

Write on the back of the check something like the following and whatever you feel necessary to add "Cashing constitutes payment in full and payee certifies rental property was returned in excellent condition. Full security deposit will be returned within __ days."

If they endorse and cash, that's a contract.

The landlord might be willing and able to afford risks, but that doesn't mean he should expect you to.

 

[Frothy]

Thanks to all for the feedback.

John D. Rockefeller, Jr. once said "I believe in the sacredness of a promise, that a man's word should be as good as his bond; that character - not wealth or power or position - is of supreme worth."

I guess you could say I have a lot to risk by not having a contract, but I have enough faith in humanity to take that risk.

Did you invest with Bernie Madoff?

 

[JANNYANS]

A contract not only protects both parties but also acts as a document as to who is staying in the property.The owner and agent should be able to show the number of people in the unit in case of over occupancy or fire.If a unit has more people than it is licensed for then the owner can have their STR licences revoked .

 

[planning42012]

This is an old thread, but it appears we have come across the same owner so I would really like to hear how this turned out. We are traveling with my parents a year from now, my dad is paying for the condo, and he wants to book this place despite the lack of a contract. I on the other hand do not trust people at all and am very very wary.

 

[Cruz91]

If it was the same owner I had, it turned out absolutely fine. The place this thread referenced is linked below (found through VRBO.com). The townhome was just a little more "worn" than some of the ones we have stayed at, but it was absolutely acceptable and generally clean.

We were there at Christmas, so we actually went and bought a little 2' tall artificial Christmas tree and some ornaments. It was an amazing time.

Good luck!

http://www.vrbo.com/70312

 

[PJMPA]

I would never rent without rental terms in place. What happens if you damage the unit and don't report it? What happens if you decide you didn't like the unit after you check out and dispute the charge with your credit card company? What happens if you decide to remove something from the unit upon departure i.e. gaming systems, hair dryers, pool equipment, CD's, DVD's. tupperware, glasses, pots, pans, alarm clocks, pool towels, etc., etc. I've experienced it all. As one wise poster has said, "renting a vacation home requires trust on both sides". While there are some unscrupulous owners out there, there are plenty of difficult guests who are looking to scam the owner. Having an understanding of the terms of the rental is important when issues arise.