Hi renters,

Welcome to Rent Check PHX. In today’s issue, we’re talking about tips for finding your next place, as well as cool listings and rent hikes.

I also have some other news to share—I’m speaking with US Sen. Ruben Gallego (D-Ariz.) this week about the affordable housing legislation he’s working on.

We’re going to talk about what the bills would do and how federal legislation like this would impact us at the local level.

I’ll also ask him about his personal experiences with renting and home-buying in the Phoenix area, because I know everyone’s got their stories.

But what I really want to know is what do you want me to ask him? The full Q&A will be in the next edition of Rent Check PHX on Oct. 8.

Send me your questions for Sen. Gallego

Thanks in advance for your smart questions, and I hope you enjoy this edition!

Jessica Swarner

Newsletter Editor, Rent Check PHX

Time to move? Here’s how to find your next rental in Phoenix

Your next apartment may be sitting on one of these websites. (Pixabay)

The signs are pretty obvious when it’s time to find a new place to live—say, a painful rent hike, bad property management, annoying roommates, or a change in commute. But knowing how to find the next, hopefully better, place can be tough.

A few readers have reached out asking for advice on where to look to find rentals in Phoenix, so I put together this guide as a place to start. It’s by no means exhaustive, but hopefully it helps you feel like you have options.

Major websites

You probably know about these major websites that are designed to help you find available rentals, but I’ll list them here anyway in case there’s one you haven’t heard of. These are nice options because you can filter by location, price, size, pet-friendliness, and other factors that will help you make your decision.

These are websites I hadn’t heard of, but they were mentioned in a post on the Phoenix subreddit about finding rentals.

Apartment Ratings
HotPads

If you can’t find what you’re looking for on these sites, or you’re overwhelmed by all the listings, there are other avenues you can explore.

Read the full story here

🧱 If you want old-fashioned coziness: This beautiful home, built in 1925, is listed for $3,000 a month. The two-bed, one-bath off Thomas Road and Seventh Street is 1,038 square feet and fully furnished. Cats and dogs are allowed, and the lease term is flexible.

🔷 If you like funky design details: This 950-square-foot house off 19th and Grand avenues has some unique fireplace and tiling details that may appeal to some folks. The two-bed, one-bath was built in 1931 and is listed for $1,795. Cats and dogs are allowed.

🏊 If a private pool is a must: This 1,229-square-foot home off of Dunlap and 15th avenues has three bedrooms, two bathrooms, and a backyard pool for just under $2,000 a month. There’s also outdoor storage tenants can use. Pets are considered on a case-by-case basis.

⛳️ If you want to be right off the course: This home off 32nd Street and Baseline Road is right next to the Raven Golf Club. At 1,198 square feet, it has two bedrooms and two bathrooms and access to a pool and hot tub, all for $1,950 a month. Small dogs are allowed.

If you come across any interesting, weird, or surprisingly affordable listings that you think should be featured here, please send them my way!

Email me

Listings available as of Sept. 23. I’m not paid to share these listings. I can’t personally vouch for them, so please do your research before applying and signing a lease!

This is The Tenant’s Voice, a place where we can share our renting frustrations, helpful tips, and pressing questions.

In the last edition, I asked for the highest single rent increase you’ve ever experienced. Here were some answers:

💸 “I lived in a Camden apartment and they raised my rent $600 from one year to the next. 😃“ — @monicagarafano

💸 “$1,000 to $1,200 the year after. Shoots up to $1,500 in the summer because utilities. Considering moving to Glendale now because it’s considered the cheapest area around me.” — @forgivethesea

And if you want to feel some pain, someone mentioned what rent was like back in the ’80s:

💸 “I was paying $333 for a studio apartment at the Biltmore Club in 1985, then I bought a house in 1987 at the age of 23. My mortgage was $425. I look back now and wonder how I ever managed since I only made $800 a month.” — Roy B.

So far in my renting experience, I’ve never had a huge increase (knock on wood!). Usually, it’s been around $50-100 from year to year. However, I haven’t stayed in any place longer than two years, so my frequent moving may have kept me from seeing that happen.

I’ve seen people report as high as an $800 rent hike. And the scary thing is—as I discussed in the last edition—there are no laws in place to prevent landlords from doing that.

Let’s keep the conversation going. What’s the single highest rent hike you’ve ever experienced? Do you wish laws around rent were different? Let me know, and I’ll include some responses in the next edition.

Email me