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I thanked them for their input and then went inside (cautiously) and looked around. It was a decent sized two bedroom rental, with a large kitchen, but I noticed several issues. There was not one closet in the entire apartment. Not in the bedrooms, not in the bathroom, not in the hall, not in the kitchen. There were kitchen cabinets, and a wire shelf to use as a pantry but not one closet. Also, in the one bathroom which was upstairs, you had to step over the toilet to get into the bathroom. Strange. 
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20 Comments on Should I tell them about the alleged rats?
As they used to say in "Dragnet" "Nothing but the facts Maam"
Kat - I would have disclosed the problem but told them that I heard it from the neighbors. If they still wanted to go see the property then I would show it.
Kat; I Think you did the right thing, I would stay away from the issue and look for another rental to show,good luck with your business in 2012.. E
Well the complete lack of closets and the stepping over the toilet would be enough for me and are actual facts you have observed. The neighbors could just want the place to themselves and are talking rats to keep people away.
That's exactly what you should have done. We have to disclose material facts to buyers. Even though they were alleged. The buyer then can make up their own mind whether or not to proceed with further investigation.
I would say that you handled it correctly. If you disclosed it to the first client, then you should disclose it to all others as well. I would caution the caller though that you heard it from the neighbors and let them decide whether to see the apartment.
As long as you tell them you heard it from the neighbor and let them know the neighbor could be lying there isn't anything else to do. But, stepping over the toilet to get into the bathroom would seal the deal for me.
once folks share with us we are obligated to share with eveyone, but it may be worth saying that you heard it but had not spoken with the landlord's agent or landlord to confirm this...
Kat ~ Disclosure is everything! No Closets??? Out here, any "Bedroom" without a closet cannot be called a bedroom. As for the rumors, hearsay or innuendo, I myself, would look for evidence to that effect. Stepping over a toilet to get into the bathroom would quickly turn me around. WOW! :)
Hey Kat... all I can say is good job!... I like Mark's suggestion about "I heard it"... who knows maybe the tenants are fibbing...
Raymond - Thanks for stopping by. So your vote would be not to mention it until I see it myself... Icky thought!
Peter - Thanks! I did tell them it was the neighbors who told me.
Ed - There were other choices so that was a good thing. Sometimes there aren't (depending on their needs) so that would have been a worse situation.
Leslie - I was thinking perhaps there was another reason the neighbors were saying that, but the apartment really wasn't nice enough to have been in big demand. I was wondering though whether they may have had a personal issue with the landlord.
Jeanne/Ralph - I think as long as I also disclosed the source of the info, then they could make up their own mind. Thanks for stopping by.
Jim - True, they could then make up their own mind. I can't feel bad if they move in after hearing the alleged details (and then the alleged details wind up to be true).
Than - The bathroom was really strange. You had to go up a step to get INTO the bathroom, and the toilet was right there, sticking out into the doorway. Very very wierd.
Mark - True, I didn't hear it from the landlord. Perhaps I should contact the landlord's agent and let him/her know what the neighbors are saying.
Jon - You can't call it a bedroom here either without a closet and window, so I don't know what the deal was either. Very odd. Yes, you're right, evidence would have been better but I couldn't bring myself to walk down into the basement. Funny thing is, my clients didn't want to go down there either.
Richard/Beth - Yes, that's true, they may be fibbing. I did mention the source of the alleged problem. Hopefully no one else will call about the same unit. Thanks for stopping by!
Christine - I would have felt awful if I hadn't, they rented the place, and then had a rat problem. Ick.
I've had neighbors claim they owned part of the street, that a house for sale had water pouring into the basement, that a tenant was growing illegal substances. Get the facts. Those rats may have been mice, or simply disgruntled tenants.
Kathryn - True, it might not be true. But since they mentioned it, I did feel obligated to share with my clients. Thanks for sharing your feedback!
Kat ~ no closets???? Where do you hang clothes and coats? Maybe there was a rodent problem hiding in the old closets?????? I think I would have stated to the caller that the apartment was lacking closets and you would have to step over the toilet to get into the bathroom, and that the adjoining neighbor to this unit was not happy with the place and stated that there was a "potential rat problem & a bed bug issue".
I also would have gotten out of there as quick as possible!
Dawn - that would have been a better response. Anyway, I have to tell you, once I heard about bed bugs, even though there was no furniture or draperies in the place, I was itching like crazy. I could just picture bugs jumping from the carpet onto my ankles. EWWWWW. And I opened a door, saw it was the basement (leading down a bunch of dark, scary steps) and I just closed the doors and waited outside for them. :-)
quote Jiminy Cricket, "Always let your Conscience be your guide!"
Jiminy Cricket quoter: True, that's true. And I did, so I'm good.