What would you do? Potential renter with a felony.

Grand Rapids, MI · Member since 2019 · 3 posts · 26 votes

We put our home on Zillow/FB Marketplace/Avail about 10 days ago. I've gotten a lot of interest, but no follow through. A potential renter wanted to see the house but asked to fill out the application first. I thought that was odd, I offered that she see if first or call with any questions. She called and told me straight off that her husband has 2 prior felonies. First was in 1994 and the second was in 2014 and he is on probation. Am I naive to consider them? I'm considering giving them a tour just to see how I feel when I meet him. She also told me they had a home-fire and are staying in a hotel and want to move in asap. Is that another red flag?

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Gary Barella

Flipper/Rehabber · East Brunswick, NJ · Member since 2018 · 64 posts · 152 votes

Being upfront and honest with you before either of you waste any time is true indicator a bad person has changed for the good. There are a million ways around landlord background checks believe me. I was in prison for stealing cars and drugs and my partner for attempted murder and we are both changed people with wives and children and big houses and millions in assets. Some people do change. If they gave you the runaround and then we’re honest with you that’s a different story but they gambled by being honest with you knowing they might not be able to move in Because they have changed in their hearts and are no longer willing to deceive anyone.

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Jacob Villalobos
Whittier , CA · Member since 2013 · 176 posts · 96 votes
7y
Next...
1 Reply
Dennis M.
Rental Property Investor · Erie, PA · Member since 2018 · 6k+ posts · 9k+ votes
7y
@Gary Barella
That’s an awesome testimony. Thanks for posting that
1 Reply
Nick GiulioniPro Member
Rental Property Investor · Carmel, IN · Member since 2016 · 1k+ posts · 615 votes
7y
I certainly would avoid this tenant.
0 Reply
Kristopher HanksPro Member
Rental Property Investor · Davenport, FL · Member since 2016 · 593 posts · 382 votes
7y
@Account Closed
Whether we like it or not people make these very bad decisions and are all around us. They still need a place to live. If they are not given those opportunities then they are much more likely to reoffend just to get by. Dig deeper and find out what the crimes were and only you can decide if you want to look past them and give him a chance. This could go either way and you need to know that going in. It could be a great deed that allows him to make changes in his life, or maybe he does not want to change and this could be a nightmare for you, when officers break in the front door to do a drug raid on your rental. Think long and hard about this decision.
2 Reply
Joseph Walsh
Brookfield, WI · Member since 2016 · 191 posts · 108 votes
7y
Pass. The key here, 2 felonies...one in 94, but yet another one just a few years back. That and none of the "he's reformed" bs passes muster, since it is the WIFE fessing up and asking. either way, there is a higher than usual risk of your renters losing part of their incomes stream, impacting your ability to collect rent, and that's ignoring any other reservations you might have. You clearly already have them, since you posted the question.
1 Reply
Huso Akaratovic
Flipper/Rehabber · Newport News, VA · Member since 2016 · 128 posts · 54 votes
7y
@Shayna Hatcher it’s good to be cautious, but sometimes looking into things too much in this business will make you loose money. Once you decide to become part of real estate, everything becomes based on what your comfort level is. Make the best decision based on the facts and your comfort level. Good luck.!
0 Reply
Kristi Gray
Rental Property Investor · Milford, DE · Member since 2018 · 16 posts · 14 votes
7y
definitely pass, too many red flags there.
0 Reply
Christopher Lombardi
Developer · Point Pleasant Beach, NJ · Member since 2015 · 303 posts · 216 votes
7y
@Shayna Hatcher do not rent to them. They will make your life miserable.
1 Reply
Ryan MancusoBusiness Member
Real Estate Agent · Prescott, AZ · Member since 2019 · 31 posts · 13 votes
7y
@Account Closed There are a few red flag, BUT I don't think you're naive to consider them. You should come up with strict criteria whether it is renting to these people or others. That being said, your gut will tell you a lot and should factor in. Here are questions I would ask (that you may have already asked): How was the house fire started? What are the felonies for? How is their rental history beyond the house fire? Do they jump from job to job, or do they have strong employment history and their boss will vouch for them. Do they make enough to cover rent plus monthly expenditures (3 times the rent is a good gauge), etc. There is a lot to consider when renting to people beyond their criminal history. Trying to get a full picture of them as people and tenants should be the goal. And you can do all that without committing to them renting your house.
1 Reply
Obed Bermudez
Wholesaler · Vineland, NJ · Member since 2018 · 23 posts · 3 votes
7y
@Shayna Hatcher def red flags everywhere. I know part of you has a heart and wants to give people chances but the housefire just put the cherry on top. “No Way Jose”. Your home hasn’t even been on the market that long. Give it time. Plenty of fish in the sea. You’ll get a bite soon.
0 Reply
Roy Moses
New to Real Estate · Member since 2018 · 29 posts · 24 votes
7y
I would wait for other applicants, if it takes so long to find tenants at the price range you might also consider lowering the rent, look at the rents in your area again and see if you are just asking too much.
0 Reply
Randall Cornelison
Investor · Denton, TX · Member since 2017 · 49 posts · 17 votes
7y
I had a felon rent a house from me and he was wonderful. In your situation, I agree with the thoughts above, too many red flags, and one fairly recent. Be patient, you'll find a good renter.
0 Reply
Josue Vargas
Real Estate Agent · San Antonio, TX · Member since 2017 · 814 posts · 466 votes
7y
Skip them, do not show property to them, do not contact them again.
0 Reply
Peter StewartBusiness Member
Real Estate Broker · Indianapolis, IN · Member since 2018 · 160 posts · 168 votes
7y
I would pass. Not worth the risk. I don't accept any tenant with felonies, bankruptcy, etc.
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2 Reply
Brad E.
Investor · Athens, GA · Member since 2015 · 205 posts · 66 votes
7y
@Account Closed
I would pass. 2 felonies... clearly he didnt learn his lesson.
0 Reply
Susan NaftulinBusiness Member
Rosemont, PA · Member since 2013 · 14 posts · 6 votes
7y
Originally posted by @Russell Brazil:

It depends on the crime. Attempted murder? No. DUI, sure. Financial crimes? No. Smoking weed, sure.
Just use common sense.
^^ The context definitely matters. Although be very careful on how the lease is written!
0 Reply
Dan ShelhamerPro Member
Realtor · Mesa, AZ · Member since 2015 · 163 posts · 99 votes
7y
@Shayna Hatcher PASS!
0 Reply
Jon Segura
Rental Property Investor · Philadelphia, PA · Member since 2018 · 42 posts · 9 votes
7y
three red flags. i'll pass!!
1 Reply
Chris R.
Rental Property Investor · Southern NH · Member since 2017 · 87 posts · 100 votes
7y
There are circumstances like this where some will say that not all felons are violent people and everyone deserves a second chance. I'm not one of those landlords...I like to mitigate risk. Felonies are not handed out lightly and pig-piling on the risk with this couple has 'hell no' written all over it.
0 Reply
Jon S.Pro Member
Investor · Tampa, FL · Member since 2015 · 530 posts · 92 votes
7y
@Roger Steciak
Good articles! Thanks for posting.
0 Reply
Joseph ODonovanPro Member
Property Manager · Ridley, PA · Member since 2017 · 427 posts · 449 votes
7y
@Shayna Hatcher Don't walk away from this one, run!
0 Reply
Jeremy A.
Rental Property Investor · ME · Member since 2018 · 179 posts · 59 votes
7y
Originally posted by @Angie Williams:

@Shayna Hatcher I have had two tenants in the past with felonies from years back. It didn’t justify to me who they were today. I took a chance and rented to both of them. First tenant rented for 4 years and the other tenant right before him rented for almost 5 years. I never held their felonies against them and they were pretty significant charges and the jail time they had did many years back. I respected the fact it was one of the first things disclosed to me when we met, when most I believe would lie just to have a place to live. Again, I took a chance!
Overall, both cleaned up their lives and pasts, both were in construction unions in NYC and made great salaries doing so to cover rent, always kept their apartment clean and around the property maintained when wasn’t even in their lease. But, more importantly they were two of the BEST tenants I think ever had. I have had more destruction and stress with tenants who have never even had a speeding ticket then I did with these two tenants who most people wouldn’t even consider them to be their tenants.
Moral is, you can do all the background checks, credit checks, look at pay stubs and accounts till you think you found the golden tenant from heaven. Although, reality is with all of the information you thought would score you the best tenant, could be so far from who they really are and who you just rented to, all based on documents you spent hours looking over. You will never really know who you rent your property to until you actually rent it to them, because their is no background check for double personalities, hidden anger issues, spiteful intentions, or who someone becomes when there angry or upset.
I had another tenant, a woman with an amazing job, high education, credit better then mine, was very clean, we knew mutual people in the neighborhood, the worst ticket she had was a parking meter ticket..Anyways, I thought I found the greatest tenant in town. That was until it was time for her to move, I had decided to sell b/c the market was in my favor. Well, needless to say she wasn’t that happy and didn’t want to move after 3 years and turned into the devil tenant.
Her clean criminal background check didn’t s help her spitefully from stop her paying rent. Two to three months right before she had to leave her amazing job didn’t stop my electric bill from being so unusually high my electric company even contacted me to have my home checked out by a professional electrician for anything faulty. Her 740 credit score didn’t stop her from avoiding my phone calls and cursing me out every time we spoke, her dual masters degree didn’t stop the filth she intentionally put outside my house with cigarette packs and junk all over the front yard. Yup!! That was when I realized she was the best tenant on paper and in all my background checks, but one of the worst tenants till this day in person.
exactly. amen. amen
preach it sista.
0 Reply
Jeremy A.
Rental Property Investor · ME · Member since 2018 · 179 posts · 59 votes
7y
Originally posted by @Chris R.:

There are circumstances like this where some will say that not all felons are violent people and everyone deserves a second chance. I'm not one of those landlords...I like to mitigate risk. Felonies are not handed out lightly and pig-piling on the risk with this couple has 'hell no' written all over it.
actually they are handed out like candy and keep adding laws with felony as consequences. btw felony is given to anyone who judge says must spend at least 365 days in jail or 1 day in prison. but in practical terms cause overcrowding in jails they throw many folks with over 160 days jail sentence 1 in state prision instead county jail.
0 Reply
Jeremy A.
Rental Property Investor · ME · Member since 2018 · 179 posts · 59 votes
7y
Originally posted by @Angie Williams:

@Shayna Hatcher I have had two tenants in the past with felonies from years back. It didn’t justify to me who they were today. I took a chance and rented to both of them. First tenant rented for 4 years and the other tenant right before him rented for almost 5 years. I never held their felonies against them and they were pretty significant charges and the jail time they had did many years back. I respected the fact it was one of the first things disclosed to me when we met, when most I believe would lie just to have a place to live. Again, I took a chance!
Overall, both cleaned up their lives and pasts, both were in construction unions in NYC and made great salaries doing so to cover rent, always kept their apartment clean and around the property maintained when wasn’t even in their lease. But, more importantly they were two of the BEST tenants I think ever had. I have had more destruction and stress with tenants who have never even had a speeding ticket then I did with these two tenants who most people wouldn’t even consider them to be their tenants.
Moral is, you can do all the background checks, credit checks, look at pay stubs and accounts till you think you found the golden tenant from heaven. Although, reality is with all of the information you thought would score you the best tenant, could be so far from who they really are and who you just rented to, all based on documents you spent hours looking over. You will never really know who you rent your property to until you actually rent it to them, because their is no background check for double personalities, hidden anger issues, spiteful intentions, or who someone becomes when there angry or upset.
I had another tenant, a woman with an amazing job, high education, credit better then mine, was very clean, we knew mutual people in the neighborhood, the worst ticket she had was a parking meter ticket..Anyways, I thought I found the greatest tenant in town. That was until it was time for her to move, I had decided to sell b/c the market was in my favor. Well, needless to say she wasn’t that happy and didn’t want to move after 3 years and turned into the devil tenant.
Her clean criminal background check didn’t s help her spitefully from stop her paying rent. Two to three months right before she had to leave her amazing job didn’t stop my electric bill from being so unusually high my electric company even contacted me to have my home checked out by a professional electrician for anything faulty. Her 740 credit score didn’t stop her from avoiding my phone calls and cursing me out every time we spoke, her dual masters degree didn’t stop the filth she intentionally put outside my house with cigarette packs and junk all over the front yard. Yup!! That was when I realized she was the best tenant on paper and in all my background checks, but one of the worst tenants till this day in person.
your is smartest most complete response. thank you
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Chuck Mader
Investor · Punta Gorda, FL · Member since 2015 · 35 posts · 30 votes
7y
@Gary Barella
Always believe in change. Always. :)
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