Chapala Municipality Meeting with Local Realtors Re: Safe House Rentals

From Chapala.gob Facebook:Chapala Gobierno Municipal
Yesterday
Chapala Municipal Government reports:
On Friday, May 25, Mayor Jesús Cabrera Jiménez and Public Security Director Captain Reynol Contreras met with representatives of nearly 20 local real estate companies to discuss security issues and the important role their industry plays in the events that erupted in the area, given that the majority of the criminal safe houses that have been found in the Municipality were rental properties handled by realtors. Thus it was suggested that they implement greater security measures in renting out properties, such as requiring criminal record clearance certificates (Constancia de No Antecedentes Penales) and carefully studying the profiles of prospective clients. In addition, they will post on their websites the Municipal Government bulletins issued to the citizenry. We will maintain close contact with realtors by attending their monthly meetings.
Please help us by sharing this information.

This is a great step in the right direction! Thanks for this notice, I missed it.

Who believes that these people are going thru legit companies to rent?
They enter the "barrios" & offer higher payments & hire locals to "watch", etc

I believe they have a similar relationship between the police and the RE companies in Vancouver due to rental houses being turned into grow ops and drug labs. They hold the owners of the rental houses accountable regardless of whether they use a rental company or not. If the house is used for illegal drug manufacturing activity it can, and usually is, seized and sold at auction.

Not in Mexico !
Completely different Mundo !

I know first hand of one rental agent who knowingly rented/rents houses to people who are shall we say highly suspicious. That is all I will say about it but I see it firsthand.
Like the vehicles they drive, the comings and goings, people around the criminals know they are there. Overcoming the fear is key in getting these places reported before they do damage.

How are those people who rent privately going to be dealt with? Not everyone rents their house using a rental agent.

I hate to rain on the parade but how is the rental agent going to know who is a narco or not. Just because a Mexican drives a nice car does not mean he is a narco. I am sure a lot of the locals here are afilated with them.

ferret wrote:How are those people who rent privately going to be dealt with? Not everyone rents their house using a rental agent.

The owners of the property need to be held liable IMO. Once you seize a few properties there will be better reference checks done.

CanuckBob wrote:

ferret wrote:How are those people who rent privately going to be dealt with? Not everyone rents their house using a rental agent.

The owners of the property need to be held liable IMO. Once you seize a few properties there will be better reference checks done.

Everyone picks on the Poor Landlord... It's a Thankless Job....

But somebody has to do it......jaja.

There is a principle in law and government at work here: You can't catch everyone, but you damn well better catch someone. The realtors are the most visible "someone" here. And, of course, looks like we do not know if any real estate companies were 'inadvertently' involved in renting or selling the safe houses.

CanuckBob wrote:The owners of the property need to be held liable IMO. Once you seize a few properties there will be better reference checks done.

That way lies madness.

I don't know about Canada, but here in the States laws like that have made it a living hell for many innocent people.

In all justice, you can't hold people responsible for something they have no control over.

Oh they have control over who they rent to. Criminal background checks etc. can do wonders IMO.

There are a few precautions to take:

1. Sign the contract with a notario as they will need to verify their identity.
2. Check their Mexican credit report.
3. Check for other lawsuits against them, friends in Guad can do this and have weeded out potential deadbeat tenants this way.
4. Get references and check them as well as some proof of income such as a pay stub with employer letter and get originals and you make the copy.


Just a few examples of due diligence that is rarely practiced here in Chapala.

CanuckBob wrote:Oh they have control over who they rent to. Criminal background checks etc. can do wonders IMO.

Again, I don't know about Canada but you can't discriminate against criminals in the States.

Intercasa wrote:There are a few precautions to take:

1. Sign the contract with a notario as they will need to verify their identity.
2. Check their Mexican credit report.
3. Check for other lawsuits against them, friends in Guad can do this and have weeded out potential deadbeat tenants this way.
4. Get references and check them as well as some proof of income such as a pay stub with employer letter and get originals and you make the copy.


Just a few examples of due diligence that is rarely practiced here in Chapala.

Now that makes sense.

Too bad you can't reject the Section 8s here. That would solve a lot of the problems.

Of course, doing what you suggest would increase the rent to the tennant.

No increase, I rented an office in Guadalajara, had to show my Mexican credit report, my property tax bill to prove I own a property and my taxes are current, as I am a low risk tenant we split the cost for the notarization of the rental contract.

Really little cost, maybe $1,000 pesos up front to the tenant for notarization and credit check and unless you rent a shack, it is a drop in the bucket and the landlord should give you a good deal on the rent knowing you are lower risk.

Briefcase full of cash = Exceptional Credit Report

KYC - Know your customer of face the ill effects.

Good thing about notarized rental contracts, it cuts months off the eviction process and is a good thing for landlords!

Rent only to Foreigners & if you have a problem with them, notify Immigration. They will be cited for a hearing, etc