Renting to people who don't have Social Security but do have ITIN

[Dan Marl]

I have a couple who are great tenants at my Dallas house. They have good income and good credit scores and their lease will end on 4/23. They just bought a home and want to terminate the lease early in December 2022 and I am ok with that.

The couple's parents want to rent the house from me when the couple moves out. The younger sister who is in college will also move in.

The issue is that the parents do not have Social Security numbers but they do have an Individual Tax Identification Number (ITIN). They work and say that their combined income is 3x of the rent (rent is 2,000). However, they get paid in cash.

The couple is willing to co-sign the lease for the parents and sister. I have never dealt with tenants who do not have a Social Security number or verified income. The parents seem like they are good people.

What would you do? Ask them for 3 months of deposit? Would you rent to them? What would be the pitfalls? Thank you in advance.

[Greg H.]

So you have a ready tenant with a family that you already have a positive relationship with and want to deny them in hopes that you find another family as good as this one?  Just does not make sense to me.  One must realize in Texas with a SS# or not, you will almost never collect a judgment in Texas if this go south.  No lost rent along with your past great tenant involved.  I would do this deal all day long