Renting. What information am I exposing?

[Mukind]

Hey guys I have rented with roommates in college, but my activities were benign and I wasn't even on the leases. I have lived strictly on undeclared cash for my years at school. But now I am going to be the only one on the lease, so I want to get an idea of who will have my address after I sign this lease. Or record how much I payed?

Obviously my landlord will know who I am, and have records of where I live. My question is about what he does with that information. In what if any ways will my address become public knowledge?

Will there be county records?
Will his tax return specify my name? And what I payed?
What information will he give to the credit bureau if he is a member?

The shadier of the land lords won't declare the income at all. And will keep no records except his own. But I don't really want a shady landlord.

I would just like to make it extremely hard for anyone to know where I live, what I do, or what I make. I would like to be in control of ALL the info the public has about me. But since that can't happen. I'll try to settle for being aware of all of it. And doing what I can to control the flow.

Oh almost forgot to ask about utilities, any way to set them up anonymously in a rental home? They seem like an obvious place to look for a possible address on a suspect. Maybe I will find a landlord or management service that will keep the utilities in their name.

Any thoughts on staying off the grid, that don't require a change in lifestyle? All suggestions appreciated

 

[resinryder]

Will his tax return specify my name? And what I payed?=

Yes. It is reported on his tax report form that reports rental income. The amount of rent received and the renters name.
The utilities are in either your name of in the name of someone you know that will request it in their name. Landlords don't want to get stuck with a power bill they didn't run up. You'd be totally surprised by how many renters don't pay the rent and skip out.
ALSO-Get renters insurance. The landlord only carries shell insurance that protects his interest and not yours. In case of fire, theft, or whatever, you are not covered under his policy.
If you get a renters agreement it protects both of you. primarily the landlord but does give you some protections that no agreement will. but if you have no renters agreement you are not held to a 6 month to a 1 year commitment.
Find out the frequency of his inspections. Most states require at least a 4 hour notice. Some places more. Some landlords, as long as you pay the rent on time, or ahead of time, may not even worry about the inspection. but most are anal about it.
If you go through a management company the inspections will be mandatory and they stay on you.

 

[kifmaster]

There is no centralized renters database. Paying rent and signing a lease alone does not put your information in any searchable capacity.

The landlord *MAY* report it on their taxes but this still isn't in a searchable database.

As far as utilities goes, if you set them up in your name you will now be easily found by LEO or anyone that has a computer.

Its been said several times on this forum however that in the US most power companies do not check the name and SSN used to setup the account, use a bogus name and pay on time and you are good.

 

[Mukind]

Thanks guys