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?
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.
I’ve had two tenants with felonies. They were both upfront about it. Both have been fine tenants.
But the bigger question is why don’t you have more inquiries! Is something wrong with your listing?
One had a rap sheet a mile long for drugs and petty crimes from their teen years through their forties, and they were still on probation. I was absolutely crazy to even consider them but a mutual friend seriously vouched for them, the interview went well. Long story short, rents always on time, apartment is well maintained, tenant is always pleasant, no problems. He has been a model tenant.
The 2nd one had one felony, and was going through a diversion program. His fiancé was employed, his employer and references were all good, her references were good, he and she interviewed well, and he and she have been model tenants.
The house fire is worrisome! Did they forget to turn off a burner? Are they smokers? Find out the cause of the fire. There are a lot of red flags here, so I’d be very cautious. Make sure you understand the details.
On the other hand if you had more qualified applicants you wouldn’t be asking this question. If I don’t have a few inquiries daily I automatically assume something is off with the listing. Price? Ad copy? Photos? Figure out what you need to change to get the inquiries flowing.
Final note, you could take the headache off yourself by paying an experienced realtor to screen the inquiries and find a good tenant. Some will do it for a percentage of the first months rent.
@Shayna Hatcher don’t do it. Wait it out for the right tenant. What are the felonies? Di you really want to open that door. I made that mistake once and paid dearly for it.
Hear me out for a moment. This country has the toughest regulations when it comes to Equal Housing Opportunity for the most part, except when it comes to convicted felons. Matter of fact, felons are probably the most discriminated against group in this country without any recourse or major advocacy.
There are over 2 million Americans with criminal convictions and we have the highest arrest and conviction rate among children of any first world country.
This for the most part has to do with this country's history of institutional and blatant racism. I personally think it's disgusting when a landlord automatically disqualifies a potential tenant based on a conviction. With the exception of child molestation and rapist because that is a whole different level.
Now, as investors we have to mitigate our risks. Would I give a felon a chance, 100% However, 2014 is too new but I would have to know the details. It could have been driving with a suspended license or any number of driving violations. That's considerable for me because I understand the obstacles different demographics face in this country. Now...drug related from 2014, that's a definite NOT. Because at some point those drugs are coming in the home.
The fire, that is one strike, no discussion. 2 strikes your out. No need to take unnecessary gambles.
Find out the details of the 2014 incident and be sure the house arrest, tether thingy is related to that case.
Don't automatically disqualify someone without knowing the circumstances of the matter. And verifying it.
Because there are a lot of bad high risk people out here without criminal records who could become that "nightmare tenant" in any instant.
Just my 2 cents
you are breath fresh air preach truth finally 1 other intelligent person beside cute blonde from ny. lol
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.
Beautifully clarified Jeremy, thank you. Still doesn't take the red flag off a felony conviction on my rental application though.
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.
Beautifully clarified Jeremy, thank you. Still doesn't take the red flag off a felony conviction on my rental application though.
@Shayna Hatcher I think you need more info to decide. Just because someone made a mistake yesterday doesn’t mean he’ll make the same ones tomorrow. Maybe ask for the PO as a reference and get feedback on the person.
I would never consider this. A good way to look at this is to ask yourself is this a person I’m willing to risk my financial future on? Take the emotion out of it.
@Account Closed I rent to a felon now, but I did some investigation before doing so. She was 18 and her boyfriend was selling drugs and she was living in the house with him, so she was charged. She was upfront about it when I first spoke to her on the phone during my prescreening. She turned out to be a great tenant. When you are small you can take your time in selecting your applicants, just need to ask the right questions to get the answers you want to know. Most big complexes turn away good people when they do not meet all the checkboxes they require. They don't want to put the time or resources to investigate, its just a no and then next application. I always tell the applicant we do background checks and we look for things such as burglary, aggravated assault, weapon charges etc.. Anything that could potentially bring harm or problems to our tenants and our neighbors in the community. Most of the time they are upfront and if I don't feel they would meet my qualifications I let them know not to apply. It really comes down to your comfort level with the applicant.
Great comments so far. I have a few perspectives on this (and full disclosure, I am a relatively newer landlord, so I have not dealt with this situation a ton). For what it's worth, I worked for the federal prosecutor's office during law school, but also support the Innocence Project, and in general think we sometimes overdo punishment, esp for non violent convictions.
With that said, 1994 conviction and then a 2014 conviction is a big red flag. Yes, 2014 could be something minor, but it still isn't good that he got in trouble again. If it were just 1994, maybe, but not with something so recent. I have to believe you can find a better tenant. Pass.
I'd recommend explicitly listing out your requirements to a rental in a listing. Let people disqualify themselves first, the remainders are far more likely to follow through, it will save you a lot of time and a lot of headaches. As for this couple, I would hard pass. A felony shows a tremendous amount of irresponsibility, especially if it's his second one 20 years later. Let me phrase it like this, if you make this exception then you'll make it again. If not now, this WILL come back to bite you eventually when you give someone a chance and they mess it up. I'd rather leave a property vacant 2x as long for the right tenant than cave and face the inevitable evictions/headaches/etc.
Honestly, in my opinion if they're for anything violent, theft, robbery, drug related. I wouldn't second guess it and deny the applicant. I would ask what the felonies were for, and verify with a background check.
If, they're non violent I would put thought into it. How long is he on probation for? Also, if he has completed most of his probation without issue, you can kind of see that he is committed to change.... I hope this helps 😊
Advertise your property in more places, contact local RE agents and let them know what you have available for rent and stick to your tenant screening process 100% of the time. I have not personally rented to anyone who had felonies but, understand some people do change and it all depends on what their work history is, how long they have been clean and your gut feeling after personally interviewing them. Contact their prior landlord and see how they were.
I think the fact that she was upfront and honest is something to consider. I would proceed with caution but I definitely would not allow that to be the only reason why you don't consider them.
I am really liking the answers so far. Just ONE more note to consider... The last thing you want is to be reported for discrimination. Just make sure that if you pass on them, that your criteria stays the same with all future potential tenants.
A felony from over 20 years ago would tell me it was long in the past. Less than 7 years ago (like 2014?) Would tell me that for whatever reason (because they, sometimes people have legitimately good reasons for doing bad things) they are still in the mind set that they have to commit crimes in order to get ahead in life. Also depending on what the charges were for, it could be a whole other level of risk involved as well.
Look I was a "troubled youth" and I unfortunately tacked on 5 ADULT f5 felonies and nearly 5 years of lock up time by the age of 17! I'm 20 now, almost 21, and For the most part I feel like I got my stuff together and would be a GREAT tenant (if I ever wanted to be one that is), but being honest with myself, I wouldn't rent to myself if I was going through the screening process. Its just simply too soon and while it sucks, you have to pay for a VERY long time for bad things you may have done in the past....
Someone will take them, and that landlord, whomever they are, could possibly be either GREAT amazing tenants that you WISH you had, or they could end up being completely hell bent demon tenants from hell. Either way, let the OTHER landlord find out, not you. If they are great tenants, then hey, let them come back a year or 2 from now and consider them then. But you wouldnt want the "extremely gifted" medical student to perform brain surgery on you if they have never done an operation before in their life right? No matters how good their test results were, you woukd want some body who already has experiance to do that operation.
Some head aches are worse than others and you have to pick and choose those carefully.