Landlord vs. reloading bench

[H. Floyt]

Landlords generally don't like anything. If they had their choice you wouldn't actually get to go into the property without supervision. The only leverage you have is your ability to leave and take your rent money with you, and that isn't worth much if they can find a new tenant easily. There is no upside for them in allowing anything they think might be a risk.

With that in mind I use a Lee hand press in my apartment. Everything (except primers) is stored in a plastic bin that slides under the couch. When I get home from the range I sit in front of the TV resizing all my empties. Then I put the press away and prime cases. Only when I have a bunch of primed cases do I move from the couch to a dining room table to actually load.

As for lead...I have heard enough stories of people poisoning themselves casting lead without proper ventilation that I would be concerned if I saw a casting setup ready to go in a garage.

 

[ColtPythonElite]

There have been many sugestions on buying a house. Don't forget the maintenance and TAXES depending on where you live. You can own a house but the taxes never stop and if you get far enough behind on them your local friendly government will seize it and sell it and your SOOL. Something to consider.

I own my house. No mortgage. Taxes and maintenance costs is still far less than rent would be.

 

[32_d3gr33s]

I havent had either of my past 2 landlords have any concerns about me reloading, but at the same time they might not even know what my equipment does. I do have a fire extinguisher mounted on my bench "just in case".

 

[justice06rr]

OP, if buying a home is a possibility, I highly suggest that route in the future if you can afford it.

Remember that now is a relatively good time in the housing market. Home prices are rebounding again and interest rates are still low.

I own a fairly new townhouse with 3br/3bath and 2car garage, and you'd be surprised that I pay way less than what some people pay for rent for a smaller apartment with no garage. When you own a home, you can do anything you want as long as its legal and does not bother anyone.

Just as an example, I've done a recent comparison of rent vs own in my area:
-To rent a 2bd/2bath apartment is between $700-1100 with no garage.
-My mortgage payment is under $800 for 3bd/3bath with 2car garage.

And in order to access that equity you have to sell a house. Which is not easy or free.

I've owned my house for five years. I could have rented a nice place for the amount I've paid in interest and moved whenever I felt like it rather than being tied to one place and having to do all my own maintenance.

On paper I have approximately $25K in equity built up in my house. When I spoke with a realtor about selling, I realized the process would cost me virtually all of that.

Not necessarily.

Depends on the home, how long you've owned it, how much you paid, your credit status, etc. You also don't have to be tied up to it if you know what you're doing and use a rental agency. I have a good friend/business partner who owns 2 homes here in FL, while he now lives in WA.

My parents have been taking out loans from the bank using their positive home equity to do home improvements and even buy their cars. They have near-perfect credit and have been living in their home for over 10yrs and almost done with the mortgage.

If you've only been in your home a few years, or have low equity, or bad credit, it may be different. But if you have a good amount of positive equity and good credit, you can take out a "Line of Credit" with the bank that mortages your home.

 

[rockhopper46038]

I own my house. No mortgage. Taxes and maintenance costs is still far less than rent would be.

While I congratulate you on being mortgage free (I'm trying to get there ASAP myself), it is an unfortunate (and I think borderline criminal) reality that unless you live in a jurisdiction without property taxes, you NEVER will "own" the property, as the taxman can seize it from you if you ever fail to render into Caesar what he deems to be his...

 

[captmoto]

If you leave there, do so on good terms. Your current landlord becomes your latest reference if you decide to rent again.
I have my loading bench inside but I also have a mortgage. I don't get how you could have a fire during reloading with just a tiny bit of common sense. I always prime separately from dropping powder. Primers are stored before I do anything with powder. I clean up any powder spills immediately with a shop vac.
I was a professional firefighter for over 30 years in a huge urban area and don't recall any fires starting in a reloading area. It seems most all accidental fires were electrical or mechanical in nature. Others were negligent and some were really stupid.

 

[Palehorseman]

Many years ago we were renting a house in Phoenix, AZ and the landlord sprang a surprise visit thanks to a nosey neighbor alerting him as to suspicious activity. The activity that Saturday consisted of about 6 or 7 friends and I having an ingot party where we were mixing alloys of WW, tin and soft lead in the alley behind the garage.

The landlord flipped out, and even more so when he seen my reloading bench with powders, primers and etc.. He declared the lease invalid and we were to move out ASP. I told him we were not moving until the remainder of that months rent expired. He also refused to pay us back for the extra months payment we made on signing lease, so we stayed another month.

Before we moved the wife listed all the improvements we had made to the house and demanded he meet her there for inspection and to sign off on it. He did so and was impressed as to improvements and how clean things were.

He later rented to the wrong people who drove neighbors nuts with late night loud music and drunken parties and really messed up the house. He then contacted us and begged we come back, at a reduced rent, we told him to go pound sand.

 

[Palehorseman]

As for lead...I have heard enough stories of people poisoning themselves casting lead without proper ventilation that I would be concerned if I saw a casting setup ready to go in a garage.

Pure nonsense, I have been casting bullets for well over 50 years and blood test last year was below normal. Lead does not gas off until temperature reaches a much higher level than required for casting. Lead dust is another matter, so always wear gloves and wash hands well after casting.

 

[herrwalther]

I always kept my reloading supplies or firearm related purchases out of sight from my landlord. Quite the challenge when you have a free standing Winchester safe in the corner of the living room, but doable. There was never anything in my lease against firearms or explosives, so that was not a worry. Firearms is a very polarizing topic, I have encountered.

 

[stonecutter2]

It is NOT your home. You want to make the rules? Buy your own house; otherwise you are subject to their rules and regs

They speak the truth.

Interest and mortgage rates are at historic lows. Leverage this to your advantage if you can.

 

[blarby]

My landlord is coming by for an inspection today- I'll post how it goes.

 

[blarby]

Ok, he was amazed we had so much stuff.

Got to show him how to load 12 ga. He. thought it was pretty cool.


Just left after about a half hour of stories from the olde country

 

[leadcounsel]

Others have covered the basics.

Time to buy.

Renting at $1,000 per month for a decade = $120,000 in someone else's pocket with no equity to show for it.

Ownership means building equity, having freedom, and no surprise inspections.

Houses are dirt cheap today, if you shop carefully and are savy, and interest rates are absurdly low. No reason for anyone with a job/stable income, good credit, and planning to stay put to be renting. The house I own and am sitting in right now was built in 2007 and then discounted about 40% on foreclosure when I bought it in 2011.

It's true that the equity is difficult to capture, but it's there for emergency loans if you need it. It's also there for long term investment when you do move, or keep it to rent it yourself.

I've owned 3 homes. Each has left me with significant equity that otherwise would have just gone into someone else's pocket. It does take a longer time horizon, about 3 years to really start paying off the principle, and some luck to be in the right market. My first home from 2000-2005, I made around 15-20% profit when I sold (after all fees). My second home, which I still own 2009-current, is consistently rented so I break even, and I'm up in equity about 20%. My current home, purchased in 2011 (a foreclosure) is soaring in value as the market rebounds and I'm up about 20%-25% in three years in equity. Ownership today is a no-brainer.

No surprise landlord inspections to note where my safes and guns and other valuables are located either.

 

[ugaarguy]

The question has been answered, and this has drifted way outside the scope of THR.