I had a couple come by this weekend to look at one of my rentals. They seemed very nice people, were very respectful. They wanted to fill in an application and went to the ATM to withdraw cash. The husband called me from the ATM and said he wanted me to know something about his past before he submitted his application. He said he had a drug charge on his record from over 3 years ago. Everything else about their application looks good. I have called the previous landlord and the landlord has good references for them. They have always paid the rent on time and no issues. The husband's employer also has good things to say about him. The husband told me that he regrets the drug charge and has not had any issues since he and his wife met and they have two kids (2 and 1 years old). They have both been very respectful and seem nice people. When he submitted his application he told me how much he appreciates me giving him a chance. They are moving from their old place to be in a better neighborhood and have a bigger place for the family. I have a good gut feeling about it, but wanted to see what you guys thought. Would you automatically disqualify someone because of this or would you consider if they have started their life fresh? Started a family, found a new job, etc.?

OK, so the story gets interesting. This tenant had put down his employer information and his supervisor's name. I called up the person he put down and she confirmed his employment and pay. But I decided to look up the employer's number on Google and confirm that both the tenant and supervisor worked there. And one of the managers at the place said that neither of those two people worked there. Lesson learned - It's always always a good idea to confirm the information with an independent source and never believe anything any applicant writes on the application.

If I write down all the info I put on your application for my friend - then of course my friend would get all the answers to match mine!

Charles Parrish has hit this one dead on. You have to ask them things that a TRUE landlord would answer in a certain way. And don't mention any names! For example: "I was told by an acquaintance that you might have a unit available for rent. Is that so, and can you tell me about it?" That should get a "wrong number" type of reply from a non-landlord, but something else from a real landlord. Then you try to do the testing of the landlord with the tricks Charles mentioned - but make that a separate phone call where you explain your reasons for the call first. And if the current landlord speaks highly of a tentant, it means very little - but if the current landlord is bad-mouthing the tenant, then you might want to deny that applicant. Actually had an application last year where the current landlord didn't have nice things to say! Denied!

You might try to get a phone for the owner on the tax record and then call let me know who you are and see if maybe they've sold it on contract to the "landlord" or if they have tenants in that home with the name of your applicants. It may be that the applicants haven't been responsible tenants and they've come up with a scheme "landlord" = "friend" to provide good tenancy records.

From what you have said I would rent to them if the financials were good. It has been three years and everything else seems to be in order...it sounds like he deserves a second chance and will probably reward you by being a great tenant. Oh, and I would check his background to make sure there is not a history.

Would you rent to this family?

David Beard

Investor · Cincinnati, OH · Member since 2010 · 1k+ posts · 928 votes

Would you rent to this family?

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