Renter research guides
How to check violations, evictions, and ownership records before you sign.
🗽 New York City
New York City · May 2026 · 6 min read
How to Check HPD Violations on a NYC Apartment Before You Sign
A step-by-step guide to reading HPD violation records, understanding Class A, B, and C severity, and what red flags to look for.
Read guide →Brooklyn, NYC · May 2026 · 6 min read
Renting in Bushwick, Brooklyn? Check HPD Records First
Bushwick has boomed as one of Brooklyn's most sought-after rental markets — but many buildings carry significant HPD violation histories. Here's what to check before signing.
Read guide →Queens, NYC · May 2026 · 5 min read
Renting in Astoria, Queens: A Building Records Guide
Astoria is one of NYC's most popular rental neighborhoods — but pre-war buildings and rapid turnover mean hidden maintenance issues are common.
Read guide →Manhattan, NYC · May 2026 · 6 min read
Renting in Harlem, NYC: What Building Records Reveal
Harlem is NYC's fastest-gentrifying neighborhood — new renters signing leases every day in buildings with decades of HPD violation history.
Read guide →🌉 San Francisco
San Francisco · May 2026 · 5 min read
How to Check SF DBI Complaints Before Renting an Apartment
How to use SF Department of Building Inspection records to spot problem landlords and buildings in San Francisco.
Read guide →San Francisco · May 2026 · 6 min read
Renting in the Mission District, SF? Check These Records First
The Mission District is SF's most vibrant — and most complicated — rental neighborhood. Unpermitted units, DBI complaints, and displacement pressure make research essential.
Read guide →San Francisco · May 2026 · 5 min read
Renting in SOMA, San Francisco: What to Know Before You Sign
SOMA's loft conversions and tech-adjacent apartments attract young professionals — but unpermitted work and Rent Ordinance exemptions create real complexity.
Read guide →🌴 Los Angeles
Los Angeles · May 2026 · 5 min read
What Is an LAHD Violation in Los Angeles? A Renter's Guide
Everything LA renters need to know about LAHD violations, RSO status, and how to look up a building's history before signing.
Read guide →Los Angeles · May 2026 · 6 min read
Renting in Koreatown, LA: High Density, High Stakes
Koreatown is the most densely populated neighborhood in Los Angeles — and has some of its highest rates of LAHD violations. Records research is essential here.
Read guide →Los Angeles · May 2026 · 5 min read
Renting in Silver Lake, LA: What Building Records Show
Silver Lake commands some of LA's highest rents for older housing stock. The gap between price and condition makes checking LAHD records especially important.
Read guide →🏙️ Chicago
Chicago · May 2026 · 5 min read
How to Check Chicago Dept of Buildings Violations Before Renting
A guide to finding Chicago building code violations, Cook County eviction records, and ownership history for any Chicago address.
Read guide →Chicago · May 2026 · 6 min read
Renting in Logan Square, Chicago: A Building Records Guide
Logan Square is Chicago's most sought-after rental neighborhood — greystones and courtyard buildings with real histories being rented at new prices.
Read guide →Chicago · May 2026 · 5 min read
Renting in Wicker Park & Bucktown, Chicago: What to Check First
Wicker Park and Bucktown attract young professionals paying premium rents in pre-war buildings. The violation history behind those charming facades is worth checking.
Read guide →Chicago · May 2026 · 6 min read
Renting in Rogers Park, Chicago: Most Affordable — And What the Records Show
Rogers Park is Chicago's most affordable and most renter-dense neighborhood. It also has some of the city's highest building violation rates.
Read guide →Chicago · May 2026 · 6 min read
Renting in Lakeview & Wrigleyville, Chicago: What to Check Before You Sign
Lakeview and Wrigleyville attract young professionals and students paying strong rents in older courtyard buildings. High tenant churn and eviction filings near Wrigley make the building record essential reading.
Read guide →Chicago · May 2026 · 5 min read
Renting in Lincoln Park, Chicago: Building Records Behind the Premium Rents
Lincoln Park commands the highest rents on Chicago's North Side. A mix of condo conversions, LLC-owned rental buildings, and DePaul student housing means the records behind those prices vary widely.
Read guide →Chicago · May 2026 · 6 min read
Renting in Pilsen, Chicago: Gentrification, Violations & What the Records Show
Pilsen is Chicago's fastest-gentrifying neighborhood — older housing stock, deferred maintenance, investor ownership surging, and high eviction filing rates. Here's what the building records reveal before you sign.
Read guide →Chicago · May 2026 · 5 min read
Renting Near University of Chicago in Hyde Park: Building Records Guide
Hyde Park's rental market is dominated by the University of Chicago — large apartment buildings, student turnover, aging inventory, and a mix of subsidized and market-rate housing.
Read guide →Chicago · May 2026 · 5 min read
Renting in the West Loop & Fulton Market, Chicago: Luxury Buildings & What Records Show
Chicago's most expensive rental market hides surprises — converted warehouses, condo HOA disputes, and new construction that isn't as clean as the finishes suggest.
Read guide →Chicago · May 2026 · 5 min read
Renting in Andersonville, Chicago: Small Landlords, Old Buildings & Building Records
Andersonville's aging two-flats and brick walk-ups are often managed by small owner-landlords with no property management staff. Here's what building records show and what to check before you lease.
Read guide →Chicago · May 2026 · 6 min read
Renting in Uptown, Chicago: Affordable Apartments & What the Building Records Reveal
Uptown has some of Chicago's most affordable North Side rents — and some of its highest violation rates. Large 1920s–40s apartment buildings, mixed ownership quality, and rapid gentrification make research essential.
Read guide →🌉 Pittsburgh
Pittsburgh · May 2026 · 6 min read
Renting in Lawrenceville, Pittsburgh: Building Records Before You Sign
Lawrenceville is Pittsburgh's hottest rental market, but rapid gentrification means investor-owned row houses and brick doubles now dominate. Here's what Allegheny County records reveal.
Read guide →Pittsburgh · May 2026 · 5 min read
Renting in Shadyside, Pittsburgh: Premium Rents & What Building Records Show
Shadyside commands Pittsburgh's highest rents — but paying top dollar doesn't guarantee a problem-free building. Here's what PLI records and Allegheny County data show about Shadyside apartments.
Read guide →Pittsburgh · May 2026 · 5 min read
Renting in Squirrel Hill, Pittsburgh: What Allegheny County Records Reveal
Squirrel Hill is Pittsburgh's most stable residential neighborhood — but stable doesn't mean problem-free. Here's what PLI and Allegheny County records show about renting in Squirrel Hill.
Read guide →Pittsburgh · May 2026 · 5 min read
Renting on Pittsburgh's South Side: Carson Street Apartments & PLI Records
The South Side has two very different rental markets: Carson Street's nightlife corridor and the quieter South Side Slopes. Here's what PLI records show about renting in both.
Read guide →Pittsburgh · May 2026 · 6 min read
Renting in Oakland, Pittsburgh: Student Housing & What PLI Records Show
Oakland is Pittsburgh's highest-density student rental market. CMU and Pitt demand drives rents up and maintenance standards down. Here's what PLI records reveal about renting in Central and South Oakland.
Read guide →Pittsburgh · May 2026 · 6 min read
Renting in East Liberty, Pittsburgh: Gentrification, New Landlords & Building Records
East Liberty is Pittsburgh's most dramatic gentrification story. New luxury apartments, recent ownership transfers, and rising rents mean building records matter more than ever.
Read guide →Pittsburgh · May 2026 · 5 min read
Renting in Bloomfield, Pittsburgh: Little Italy Apartments & What Records Show
Bloomfield is Pittsburgh's Little Italy — working-class brick doubles and row houses, longtime landlords alongside new investors, and rents climbing as Lawrenceville prices overflow.
Read guide →Pittsburgh · May 2026 · 5 min read
Renting in Pittsburgh's Strip District: New Apartments & Converted Warehouse Records
Pittsburgh's Strip District is converting from industrial to residential at speed — new construction luxury units alongside warehouse conversions on Penn Avenue. Permit history on conversions matters before you sign.
Read guide →Pittsburgh · May 2026 · 5 min read
Renting on Mt. Washington, Pittsburgh: Scenic Views & What PLI Records Show
Mt. Washington's inclines and skyline views come with premium rents and older housing stock on steep terrain. Foundation concerns, slope drainage, and hillside-specific PLI violations are worth checking before you sign.
Read guide →Pittsburgh · May 2026 · 5 min read
Renting in Garfield, Pittsburgh: Affordable East End Apartments & Building Records
Garfield is the East End's most affordable neighborhood, bordering Lawrenceville and East Liberty. Affordable row houses and doubles attract renters priced out of neighbors — but some blocks have deferred maintenance worth checking in PLI records.
Read guide →