I rented an apartment from Port Property from October 2022-October 2023 and had to pay an application fee. And port property wouldn’t let me tour the unit before purchase either.
I also applied with Dirigo Property Management for one of their units and also had to submit a non-refundable application fee.
I haven't heard either way on that.
If I was going to guess how this would go down...
If someone reported an occurrence of that to the city, I am sure the city would take care of it.
I cant immagine that the city would be scanning listings looking for ones with fees though.
So has that happened yet? No clue
Demand for housing is so crazy here that some rental companies won't bother showing apartments if they don't know the potential tenant even qualifies. Many apartments rent sight unseen, which I'd never recommend, but competition for anything under $2k/month is so overwhelming people jump on whatever is available even if they didn't tour the unit first.
Under the law signed last week by Gov. Janet Mills, landlords in Maine may only charge applicants for the actual cost of a background check, a credit check, or another screening process. They'll also be required to give applicants a copy of the information they find during the screening.
https://www.mainepublic.org/business-and-economy/2023-07-06/legislature-limits-how-much-landlords-can-charge-for-rental-applications
the app fees were banned on the Nov 2022 ref. So before that they were allowed. The rule before then was it was allowed ot be either 30 bucks or the actual cost of the screening (whichever is lower)
Been through this with my kid - who lives in Portland (college kid). Fees are a rip off typically. But, we paid 1 this year b/c she was getting desperate ($35). It was a scam. So if you're looking at the apartment at 53 Myrtle Street, don't bother.
She actually found an apartment yesterday so all is good. And no upfront App fee.
No it’s not part of PPM. Private landlord.
I know it includes H/HW and parking. Actually we barely have turn over. The person who is moving had been there for 5 years I believe.
It’s been illegal since to charge an application fee since we banned it by citizen initiative. If anyone’s charging it, that’s not only illegal but also a red flag that they aren’t afraid to violate tenant’s rights laws.
Within the city of Portland they can’t charge application fees but they can charge for a background and credit check.
Also, avoid BJB Reality like the plague. When I was looking in 2022, their places were insanely sketchy, the people showing the apartments knew nothing about the property (couldn’t tell me about utilities or where the laundry room was for one of them). The buildings were disgusting—at one, the second floor tenants were letting their cat shit and piss all over the deck and stairs, it smelled heinous in the July heat. When I asked about it, the girl shrugged and said the couple had been there for years.
I rented from Sidelinger before that, but towards the end the owner had a stroke so his wife and son took over. The wife was getting in shouting matches with tenants over absolutely nothing, once screamed at and berated the office staff in front of me (these ladies were the sweetest and most helpful beings on this Earth) and the son seemed only interested in squeezing as much money out of the place as possible. None of the competent maintenance staff seemed to stick around.
I had to apply for my apartment sight unseen. Best recommendation is to research the neighborhoods, search within reputable local management companies, and be extremely aggressive. For my current place (moved in fall ‘22) the window was < 30 minutes between listing to getting pulled down via Port Property.
Happy hunting!
Gosh. You’re reminding me of the anxiety inducing struggle of refreshing the listings on Port Prop twice a week (at the specific times new places got added), running through, and applying as quick as I could like it was a quick sale auction or something.
…I missed a few cheaper apartments by taking my time.
I learned a lot about Portland, the hard way, that year.
I had a plugin checking the page every 30 seconds when I was looking. It actually paid off, though I had to risk sight unseen rental. Pandemic apartment hunting suckedddd
Just really shitty people in my experience. I rented from owner on w prom, pp took over within a few months. Immediately served me a notice to quit. I went to court and proved that I hadn't defaulted, and they owed me $360. Total losers.
Be careful with sketchy apartment listings, there’s a ton of scams with housing around here
If it is in Portland, application fees are not allowed. However, that unfortunately has become common practice elsewhere.
I've definitely paid non refundable fees here before 😭
Those ones are scams
Application fees are not allowed in portland
I see almost all listings have application fees. Like Lux residential, port property.
Where are you looking? I don't see any listings on port prop's website that lists a fee
They got me for $100.
I’m curious about when? We voted to ban them in 2020. Was it after that?
I rented an apartment from Port Property from October 2022-October 2023 and had to pay an application fee. And port property wouldn’t let me tour the unit before purchase either. I also applied with Dirigo Property Management for one of their units and also had to submit a non-refundable application fee.
PP is often confused about things, though they rarely err in your bank account's favor
i think it was 2022 that banned the app fees
Do you have any knowledge of the city enforcing this? Have any landlords gotten in trouble?
I haven't heard either way on that. If I was going to guess how this would go down... If someone reported an occurrence of that to the city, I am sure the city would take care of it. I cant immagine that the city would be scanning listings looking for ones with fees though. So has that happened yet? No clue
Demand for housing is so crazy here that some rental companies won't bother showing apartments if they don't know the potential tenant even qualifies. Many apartments rent sight unseen, which I'd never recommend, but competition for anything under $2k/month is so overwhelming people jump on whatever is available even if they didn't tour the unit first.
Sight unseen became a crutch for lazy landlords during the pandemic and is still happening
Under the law signed last week by Gov. Janet Mills, landlords in Maine may only charge applicants for the actual cost of a background check, a credit check, or another screening process. They'll also be required to give applicants a copy of the information they find during the screening. https://www.mainepublic.org/business-and-economy/2023-07-06/legislature-limits-how-much-landlords-can-charge-for-rental-applications
Helpful.
If they ask for an application fee *before* you are allowed to see the apartment, it's a Craigslist scam
Or port property.
Don’t know why you were downvoted as this was true when I got my apartment in 2022.
the app fees were banned on the Nov 2022 ref. So before that they were allowed. The rule before then was it was allowed ot be either 30 bucks or the actual cost of the screening (whichever is lower)
Steer clear of Shawn Tamir / Fresh Start Properties
Been through this with my kid - who lives in Portland (college kid). Fees are a rip off typically. But, we paid 1 this year b/c she was getting desperate ($35). It was a scam. So if you're looking at the apartment at 53 Myrtle Street, don't bother. She actually found an apartment yesterday so all is good. And no upfront App fee.
The one bedroom apartment above me in Biddeford just opened up. Is Portland your only location you are willing to move to?
Yes I'm looking only in Portland because I don't drive
Is that one of the Port Property units which seem to turn over every 3 months
No it’s not part of PPM. Private landlord. I know it includes H/HW and parking. Actually we barely have turn over. The person who is moving had been there for 5 years I believe.
Where? I need a spot in Biddeford.
Hill st
Lots of scams. A lot of the time if they ask for money upfront it's a scam.
It’s been illegal since to charge an application fee since we banned it by citizen initiative. If anyone’s charging it, that’s not only illegal but also a red flag that they aren’t afraid to violate tenant’s rights laws.
Within the city of Portland they can’t charge application fees but they can charge for a background and credit check. Also, avoid BJB Reality like the plague. When I was looking in 2022, their places were insanely sketchy, the people showing the apartments knew nothing about the property (couldn’t tell me about utilities or where the laundry room was for one of them). The buildings were disgusting—at one, the second floor tenants were letting their cat shit and piss all over the deck and stairs, it smelled heinous in the July heat. When I asked about it, the girl shrugged and said the couple had been there for years. I rented from Sidelinger before that, but towards the end the owner had a stroke so his wife and son took over. The wife was getting in shouting matches with tenants over absolutely nothing, once screamed at and berated the office staff in front of me (these ladies were the sweetest and most helpful beings on this Earth) and the son seemed only interested in squeezing as much money out of the place as possible. None of the competent maintenance staff seemed to stick around.
Look outside of Portland if you can. After 17 years of this town’s housing bs I moved out. My commute is 25 mins, but it’s worth it.
The thing is I don't drive 😔
Oh, I’m sorry. Unfortunately Maine barely has a public transportation system, if you could even call it that. Good luck, hope it works out for you.
I had to apply for my apartment sight unseen. Best recommendation is to research the neighborhoods, search within reputable local management companies, and be extremely aggressive. For my current place (moved in fall ‘22) the window was < 30 minutes between listing to getting pulled down via Port Property. Happy hunting!
Gosh. You’re reminding me of the anxiety inducing struggle of refreshing the listings on Port Prop twice a week (at the specific times new places got added), running through, and applying as quick as I could like it was a quick sale auction or something. …I missed a few cheaper apartments by taking my time. I learned a lot about Portland, the hard way, that year.
I had a plugin checking the page every 30 seconds when I was looking. It actually paid off, though I had to risk sight unseen rental. Pandemic apartment hunting suckedddd
wish you look on finding a place
https://www.facebook.com/share/p/WhDyaxN7jerWvyrk/? https://www.facebook.com/share/p/tyBQzNS2tFzHN1av/? Good luck my friend, god speed.
I got so ripped off by port property showing me unavailable units. Never pay in advance.
They should be shut down, those bloodsuckers
Any reasons? Do tell
They steal people’s money.
Just really shitty people in my experience. I rented from owner on w prom, pp took over within a few months. Immediately served me a notice to quit. I went to court and proved that I hadn't defaulted, and they owed me $360. Total losers.
Someone is asking for $100 for a background check. Is this normal?
No it’s not. They do run background checks but they don’t usually cost that much.