which landlord do I trust?

Question

I have a prospective renter who looks good on paper (no prior evictions, stability at job, decent income...)  The one red flag I think I see is that he is breaking his 24-month lease after 18 months.  When I called the current landlord I get nothing but praise regarding this tenants "always pays rent on time" "great renter" "devastated to lose him".  However, when I call the previous landlord (the one from 18 months ago) I get horror stories about this renter.

Should I trust the current landlord?  Should I trust the previous landlord?  I have heard the most effective reference questions are open-ended, however, I feel like one of the two past landlords is either lying to me or trying to accomplish a personal vendetta (either offloading a bad tenant early for the current landlord or possibly the previous is trying to tarnish this renters reputation due to a personal conflict)

What are the most effective previous landlord questions?  What are the most effective "not" open-ended questions?

Ryan Craig · Answer

@Nicholas Miller I almost always trust the landlord before the current landlord. The current landlord may say anything to get a bad tenant out of their property and save them the headache of an eviction or dealing with this person. The one he has already left has no reason to lie.

Kyle J. · Answer

I would give more weight to what the previous landlord says.  You have to take what a current landlord tells you with a grain of salt because there's always the chance that he may just be giving a glowing review so he can dump a problem tenant on you.  At a minimum, you should be asking yourself, why is he giving such a glowing review to this tenant who is clearly breaking the lease and leaving early?

Nicole A. · Answer

Was this applicant at that previous landlord's unit for roughly a year? If so, on top of these allegations, it seems like this applicant does not stay in one address for long. There must be a reason for breaking his current lease. My first thought is to continue looking for the right person.

Thomas S. · Answer

Do not risk accepting this applicant.

Michael Noto · Answer

Do not trust the most current landlord. He has every reason to lie. Trust the other guy.

Colleen F. · Answer

Ok my thought is you may have a high mantainence tenant.  They pay on time but they complain constantly and don't think rules apply to them.   If you keep your place well they still complain about petty stuff.  The second landlord feels they can recommend them because they pay on time, if they complain about something it is valid albeit often petty. I had one like this great reviews from previous landlord but required alot of attention, it was draining.   He was a good payer but refused valid late fees and did not follow MF rules. Life is too short. I invoked the if you're not happy clause.

I would be curious how many  maintence requests the second landlord got, what they are for, and why this tenant is leaving early. To me that would be telling (and if the owner of the second property says because they are moving family in, ask yourself if the tenant is so great why are they doing it!) .

Robert P. · Answer

It's obvious that the current landlord wants this person out, not matter what it takes. I would pass on this person. Major reg flag when you get two different stories. It would be different if the one from 18 months ago was also saying they were a good tenant.

JD Martin · Answer

I talk to neither and want to know why he is breaking his current lease early. If they're not moving into the area from another geographic location far away, I move on automatically.

Daria B. · Answer

@Nicholas Miller I would agree with what has already been said about the previous landlord in that they may have more of the "truth" about the tenant than the current landlord. Current may not want to say anything to the contrary so they would be accepted by another. In any case, the current landlord lease is up with them so I would think, just be truthful. It's what I would do to let the next person make up their own mind if they want to rent to the tenants or not.

I have a tenant now that started out good (into a 2 year now, renewed after 1st year) and is slowly proving herself (other occupants are her husband and children) to be argumentative and problematic. I switched PMs during their residency and she is giving more grief to the current PM than she did with the previous. All issues covered by the 1st PM were taken care of and no outward complaints other than her greasing up the stove and breaking the electric grates as a result of the grease. She was told she had to pay for them and she felt she didn't have to - well looks like she cooked on it and didn't clean it and as a result the grates no longer worked. Hummm, why should the landlord pay for that???? She's also complaining about things of no consequence - you know just making up stuff that there isn't an issue about.

When the previous PM vetted them they gave me all the particulars and nothing showed they would not be good tenants. In that report, there was a comment from their previous landlord that they always paid on time and there were no issues.

I don't plan on renewing their lease as she's already stated: "I'll be glad when my lease is over so I can leave". I've got news for her, when she started complaining about everything and has yet to pay for the stove she broke, I already knew I didn't want them to continue leasing. And she has yet to pay for the stove.....Big surprise when it comes out of the security deposit. And yes, I have all documentation from the vendor and before and after pictures and their sign off on the condition prior to move in. Document, document, document.....

Good luck with your decision....

which landlord do I trust?

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