When tenant applicants lie...

[Ryan Ahlgrim]

I’m currently trying to rent out one of my vacant properties. Usually when an applicant calls I get all their information and ask them the 4 basic questions:

1. Is your income 3x the monthly rent?
2. Do you have a clean criminal and credit background?
3. Have you had any prior evictions?
4. Can you get a good references from all your previous landlords?

If they answer all 4 questions correctly we schedule a time to do a showing.

Before the showing, and before they actually fill out an application, I’ll do a quick search of their name on Google, Facebook, and the state’s court docket website. Several times now I’ve had people flat out lie over the phone about a prior eviction or criminal background. I’m not naïve enough to be surprised, but my question is:

Do you cancel the showing and tell them why?

Or

Do you allow them to see the property, fill out an application, run the official background check, then address the issue from there?