When you can't run a credit/background check - foreign student

Question

In my 8 years of landlording, I have relied heavily on background and credit checks. But now I have a vacancy and an applicant who is a foreign student at a local college. He does not have a social security number, but said if the lack of credit history concerned me, he could pay THE ENTIRE YEAR AND SECURITY DEPOSIT UP FRONT. What would you do? I am nervous. Do I ask to see proof of his enrollment? Would you rent to this person, or only people you can run the full checks on? Obviously I would get the funds in certified form, but is that enough of a safeguard? My family and I live downstairs. What if he is trying to hide a criminal background? What would you do?

Dana Dunford · Answer

@Rose Stuart -- Some additional input:

• Up front payments: definitely do not take up front payments. If you accept all of the money in advance, you can get into some tricky legal situations if you want to evict him early.
• Background / credit check: I agree with @Percy N. on the F1 visa. In addition, you can ask if he has a relative in the US who can vouch for him. The relative can act as a cosigner and you can verify the relative's credit.

I hope that helps!

Account Closed · Answer

I loved international students.  They are serious students, from my experience and quiet, and responsible.

What I did was copied their passport and the visa inside.  Make sure it says they are here on a student visa.  Also get verification from the college that they are a student in good standing, or an acceptance letter.  I would accept a forwarded email from the college to their college email address.

What you can do, if you are concerned about taking the money up front, is ask them to put their funds in a bank account and write you checks from the account each month.  Not all banks will do this for international students, but Chase bank will for sure.

But, honestly, I had such good luck with international students, I'd be comfortable taking the money up front.  If you need to evict, you still can, and just reimburse them.

Sometimes they will need a little help regarding how things work with landlords in the U.S.  But, they normally have good resources at the college, too.  I found them to be smart, respectful and easy to work with.  I had students from Korea, China, The Czech Republic, and Canada that I can think of off the top of my head.  All were great.

Rob D. · Answer

All his entry paperwork visa,  passport

Guarantee letter from husband bank ( all colleges get this letter)

Month to month rental. You can say you will do a pull on their account rather than a push

You can always ask them to pay the highest amount of security deposit allowed by your state and pay one extra month ahead to start so this way if he starts in January he’s paying January and February. February is paying for March March pays for April. His last month is already paid for in the beginning.

I worked with international students. Most aren’t here to do anything but study. A few will mess around especially when they’re about done with their studies from what I talked to other  LLs. Truthfully I never had any issues with them

Rich Hupper · Answer

So as a landlord I should request

copy of F1 Visa

copy of passport

college acceptance letter

a bank account showing they have at least 6 months worth of rent in it

If they have an american guarantor even better, add them to the lease?

Johann Jells · Answer

Just had a viewing from a foreign student who's working PT and finishing a Masters in 18 months after which he is leaving. His family in Vietnam will be helping him with rent. He offered 3 months security but that's illegal in NJ. I'm not sure how to proceed should he apply. Not surprisingly he tried negotiating the rent, it seems like Americans are far more likely to just accept a sticker price for things.

Thomas S. · Answer

International students usually are serious assuming it is not a scam. If this is your first international application and there are others to choose from that you can do a credit check on I would simplify my life and pass. Let another landlord take them.

Andy Robison · Answer

You could have him deposit the entire fund into an escrow account and only withdraw the monthly rent when its due?

When you can't run a credit/background check - foreign student

Most Popular Reply