You toured the apartment. You love the light, the layout, the location. But before you sign a lease, there's a question most renters never ask: what kind of landlord is this?
Your landlord will have more control over your quality of life for the next year or more than almost anyone else. And unlike most other major decisions, renters rarely do any due diligence on the person holding the keys.
Here's how to change that.
Start With Public Records
In most cities, property ownership is public record. You can find out:
- Who actually owns the building (it may not be the person you're talking to)
- Whether the property has open housing violations
- Whether there are active or past lawsuits involving the property
In New York City, the Housing Data Portal shows building violations, complaints, and enforcement actions. Most major cities have equivalent databases. Search "[your city] housing violations lookup" to find yours.
Search Court Records for Eviction History
A landlord's eviction history tells you a lot. Some evictions are legitimate. A pattern of evictions — especially in buildings with high turnover — can signal a landlord who uses eviction as a management tool rather than a last resort.
Many county court systems have online case search tools. Search the landlord's name and the LLC name (if any) for housing court cases.
Talk to Current or Former Tenants
This is the most underused tool available. Knock on a neighbor's door. Send a message to someone who reviewed the building online. Ask the simple question: would you rent here again?
What to ask:
- How long does maintenance take when something breaks?
- Have you had any disputes with the landlord? How were they handled?
- Did you get your security deposit back when you left?
The security deposit question is particularly revealing. Landlords who routinely keep deposits know that most tenants won't fight back.
Search Reputation Platforms
Review platforms for landlords are limited but growing. Search the landlord's name and property address on:
- Google (reviews for the building or management company)
- Yelp (for managed buildings)
- DNounce — where tenants can file records of disputes and landlords can respond publicly
- ApartmentRatings.com
Look specifically for patterns. One negative review might be a difficult tenant. Five reviews all mentioning the same issue — maintenance delays, deposit disputes, poor communication — is a pattern.
Read the Lease Before You Sign (All of It)
A landlord's lease tells you how they think about the relationship. Look for:
- Unusual fees or penalties
- Clauses that waive your legal rights (some of these are unenforceable, but their presence signals intent)
- What's required to get your security deposit back
- How maintenance requests are handled
If the lease is heavily one-sided, the landlord knows it — and they're betting you won't read it.
The Bottom Line
A great apartment with a bad landlord is not a great apartment. The few hours you spend researching before signing can prevent months of stress and thousands of dollars in disputes.
If you've already had a bad experience with a landlord, DNounce gives you a place to document it publicly — with the landlord's right to respond — so future tenants have the information you wish you'd had.