Tenant applicant with criminal history in the past - advice please!

Tenant applicant with criminal history in the past - advice please!

Member since 2022 · 10 posts · 6 votes

Hi everyone,

I have a SFH rental in Decatur (Atlanta). The property is in I would say a C+/B- part of town. I have had in up for rent through my property manager for close to 2 months now (slow market). I finally got word of an approved application. On paper and recently the tenant looks strong. Income more than 3X rent, 690 credit history, positive report from previous landlord, from the area and moving because current landlord selling. He is 44, lives alone, has a landscaping business that is doing fairly well.

After researching further though on social media and then criminal records I found about 12 previous arrests and numerous convictions burglary, theft, criminal trafficking, molestation (don't think convicted), battery.  The dates for these convictions are over 10 years ago (2008, 2004, 2002, 1996).  The criminal record gives me serious misgivings.  Part of me wants to turn down the application due to the concerns around this criminal history, the other side of it is it is a tough market currently and slow season ahead and insisting on rejecting the application would likely create serious rifts with my property managers (whom I have generally been fine with otherwise) as they are pushing back on rejecting due to criminal history from years ago.  

What do you all think?  Am I overly concerned or is it not worth taking a chance?  If you think I should reject the application any guidance on the best way to do so (an not cause rift with PM) would be appreciated.

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Drew SygitBusiness Member
Property Manager · Royal Oak, MI · Member since 2012 · 13k+ posts · 9k+ votes
2y

@Seth Quade how long does someone need to prove they've turned their life around before you would accept them?

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  • Theresa HarrisPro Member
    Member since 2019 · 15k+ posts · 11k+ votes
    2y

    The guy is now 44, the last conviction (assuming it is the same guy) was almost 20 years ago.  Has he had any problems recently?

  • Member since 2021 · 11 posts · 4 votes
    2y

    I would not rent to him. Those crimes are serious felonies repeated over and over again. 

    The battery and molestation charges are, of course, the biggest concern to me. These are the only the ones he was caught and arrested for... imagine all the other things he's done and wasn't caught. The neighbors and children might not be safe with him around, it would not be worth the risk to me. Good luck!

  • Member since 2022 · 10 posts · 6 votes
    2y

    Thanks @Stephanie G.  @Theresa Harris No criminal history recently accept for a driving matter.  

  • Jonathan GreeneBusiness Member
    Real Estate Consultant · Madison, NJ · Member since 2016 · 6k+ posts · 7k+ votes
    2y

    Part of being a landlord gives you the power to help people who need a break so it's in your hands to look at the record and say, that was a long time ago, now he has a good business. On the other hand, that is a serious record. You would need to confirm he is not on the sexual offender registry because that would be a for sure no, and then consider whether you would rent to him if this was on the market for a week. If the answer is no then you are feeling desperate and not thinking rationally.

  • Member since 2022 · 10 posts · 6 votes
    2y
  • Investor · Cleveland, OH · Member since 2013 · 120 posts · 77 votes
    2y

    The only charge that gives me pause is the one for molestation. Granted this charge could be the one from 1996? But outside of that I would lean toward renting the property out to him. 

  • Member since 2022 · 10 posts · 6 votes
    2y

    Thanks @Andre Brock.  The molestation charge was in 2001.  It looks like he was not officially convicted, but...

  • Drew SygitBusiness Member
    Property Manager · Royal Oak, MI · Member since 2012 · 13k+ posts · 9k+ votes
    2y

    @Seth Quade how long does someone need to prove they've turned their life around before you would accept them?

  • Adam BartomeoBusiness Member
    Real Estate Broker · Cape Coral, FL · Member since 2015 · 2k+ posts · 1k+ votes
    2y

    For us, its too much, too soon. Two things when being a business owner - hire right, lease right. If you mess up on either of these your life could be a living hell. 

  • Investor · Crystal, MN · Member since 2013 · 486 posts · 277 votes
    2y

    In Minnesota, we cannot legally discriminate against a tenant who has a felony on their record.  Still, look at the facts.  Solid income, 690 credit rating.  What you didn't mention was his rental history.  That is a major consideration.  Call previous landlords...was there police calls, missed rent payments, parties, complaints, etc.  We rent to felons, especially when their convictions were more than 10 years ago...great tenants.  

    Finally, I would avoid Property Management Companies.  Here you are doing the due dilligence that they are supposed to do.   The rental vacancy rate in Decatur is barely over 4%...not a bad number.  We self manage all of our properties...really not tough.  We've never had one PM company that we made a profit with.  

  • Member since 2023 · 69 posts · 44 votes
    2y
    Quote from @Seth Quade:

    Thanks @Andre Brock.  The molestation charge was in 2001.  It looks like he was not officially convicted, but...

     Was it during a divorce?  He wasn't convicted.  The charge has become all too common for custody disputes.

  • Rental Property Investor · Los Angeles, CA · Member since 2017 · 2k+ posts · 5k+ votes
    2y

    Unless you're going to pull the police reports, you don't know exactly what happened. The molestation charge could be a tack on charge during the battery. DAs used to love to tack on as many charges as possible. Commit one crime and get charged with breaking 10 different laws. But plead guilty to the main charge and we'll drop the remaining 9 charges. 

    Having said that, the last charge was 14 years ago and he has a successful business now. I see no reason to doubt that this person has turned their life around. The crimes occurred starting when he was 16 and continued through 28. Long time ago. If the prior landlords confirm he was fine, I'd rent to him. 

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