I use Zillow Rental Manager. It does the background check and credit score for you. The potential client pays Zillow directly for that - very user friendly and I have great tenants from it.

I haven't rented out a basement, but I did rent a basement for awhile to live in. When my wife and I separated, I needed to find a place relatively quickly and affordably, with a limited lease, to get my bearings.

I found a townhouse, owned by a 20 something female lawyer. She lived in it, rented an upstairs bedroom to a 20 something female social worker. I got the basement.

Had my own bathroom, but had to share the kitchen on the first floor. Common laundry area was also in the basement, a room separate from mine.

I signed a 6 month lease. Shared all utilities on even 3 way split.

It worked for me, gave me some time to get my bearings.

You'll want to check with your insurance company and let them know. Make sure you're compliant with all town/community/HOA laws, rules and regulations regarding this.

One thing to remember, legally, and for insurance reasons, you will need to have egress/window large enough for an adult to get through to get out in case of fire or other emergency. The basement apartment I had had such a window, essentially ground level, and I had a step stool under it in case I needed it to get out.

The rent will be reportable income. Assuming you do pay taxes as required, you'll have to start paying taxes quarterly.

It does seem strange for a public library to host a private event free of charge and close 4 hours early to do it. That does not sound like a good tradeoff for the people who would otherwise have tried to use the library that day. If it weren’t for the closing early part, the question would be whether the library should provide use of its facilities for free for private, closed events. Many libraries charge.

I think this is one of those cases where (you're right) it was really insignificant. But rather than just cooperate with the auditor for, at worst, a minor finding, they decided to fight against oversight and then double down on it.

IMO oversight is important even if the stuff they find is usually trivial. The fact the library system thinks they're beyond oversight is a problem, and I hope the county council deals with that problem. I don't care one bit about what actually happened with this party/event. It's the "cover up" that bothers me.

Great questions. I am interested in having my basement finished completely to do this. I live walking distance to HCCC.

The county funds about 82% of the library system’s operating budget. Additionally, the budget is submitted to the County Exec for review and approved by the County Board.

“But library staff, including President and CEO Tonya Aikens, would not fully participate in the inquiry and steered auditor questions to its lawyer. It says that as a state agency it is not subject to oversight by the county auditor, and library staff have denied any wrongdoing.”

I’m confused as to how they are state employees.

Just apply the rules to the individuals breaking them. Not an entire class of people. You know, like how it's normally done?

Calvin isn’t in charge of the Library.

The library holds events for private organizations all the time. The only points of possible contention the article brings up is that the library closed 4hrs early for set up (not sure if that is common for events or not) and a promotion said it was "invite only" which may or may not violate whatever event rules the library has.

Even IF those were contrary to official policy, which it's unclear if it is, who f**king cares. It's so insignificant and a waste of taxpayers dollars to "investigate."

Do these events require closing to the public during normal operating and use of paid library staff? Petty corruption has become acceptable with Corrupt Calvin in charge.

I respectfully disagree that they were acting shady. The library is not actually part of the county government and it is questionable whether the auditor has any authority over them. If someone were hauling my employees in and interrogating them, I’d put an end to any good will indulgence was granting the auditor.

He does... but the library also acted pretty shady which makes me wonder what really happened.

> "Private orgs use libraries all the time for meetings."

How often do they close the library for these, though? (Honest question, I don't actually know but I would assume they don't usually do that.)

The auditor sounds like a dick with an agenda. Private orgs use libraries all the time for meetings. It’s one of the services they provide.

I’ve been in Columbia since 1991 and even earlier 80s coming to visit. Columbia was a place where all incomes and all races lived together. Now it’s showing signs of huge wealth gaps which is showing and drawing racial lines at same time. Housing is wayyyyy over priced. Before being approved to moving here every homeowner and renter should read a book called Columbia from Images Of America and watch a documentary on why Jim Rouse built Columbia

If you live near Long Reach village and high school there may be some random vagabonds walking around possible of petty crime but there is police substation nearby. The areas across Snowden are very very safe.

Patrols NO , police presence YES. There is a difference.

I had Atomic Auto do ceramic & window tint on my car. They also do PPF, but I didn’t get that.

My experience with them has been excellent.

Sorry, not all of us are addicted to that shit or want it blown in our general direction when walking around in public.

Oh ok change the rules then..

Oh, don't be mistaken. I disagree with that as well.

Gotta admit, it is illegal to: 1) smoke weed outside in public, 2) smoke weed below the age of 21.

Bullshit.

Especially the underage aspect of it.

Actually, no.

oh no! kids smoking weed by a loading dock!