tommyrot, I think they want to make sure that you pay the rent on time, don't trash the place or bother your neighbors, and are generally a Very Good Tenant. If your current landlord isn't a lying dick, you'll be fine.

Well, my current landlord blames me for the bedbug infestation of the building. Which I disagree with, and experts say there's just no way of telling how the bedbugs got in the building, but my landlord still insists it's all my fault.

tommyrot, he wants you out, doesn't he? He'd be shooting himself in the foot if he gave you a bad recommendation.

tommyrot, he wants you out, doesn't he? He'd be shooting himself in the foot if he gave you a bad recommendation.

That's what I'm thinking/hoping.

Oh, I'm going to look at a place here in Evanston tonight. I could be living a 20 minute walk away from work.

Chances that they would actually call are pretty slim. Chicago's rental market is not like the East Coast cities where they can pick and choose.

Chances that they would actually call are pretty slim.

This. They are probably just asking to see if you'll provide it without question (i.e., implying there's no problem).

Chicago's rental market is not like the East Coast cities where they can pick and choose.

Yeah, I've been surprised at the number of "deals" in the craiglist listings - like no security deposit, half-month rent free and whatnot.

Hmmm, I just got spam from Azalee Panis.

Weird, I just answered a trivia question during an office baby shower about the age of the oldest mother to give birth. And now she's dead.

They are also looking at your overall history--if you moved every two months, for example, that's a red flag.