Tenant Applicants say the dumbest things

Tenant Applicants say the dumbest things

Real Estate Investor · Houston, TX · Member since 2010 · 37 posts · 326 votes

Stupid things Tenant Applicant’s say.

I had renovated a nice 4/3/2 and put it on the market for lease. Here are some of the comments from people who toured the property during the open house or called me from signage.

#1
Young single mother with 3yr old in tow. “My boyfriend will be paying the rent, he said to just go find a place, but I want to rent it in my name, so it will be mine alone.”
I’m thinking: I’m not renting to someone without the verified income to pay the rent. Sorry but a promise from a boyfriend just won’t do.
I’m saying: Here’s a rental application. The application fee is $25 but you should know that I will need to verify income and whoever is paying will need to be on the application and lease.

#2
Middle aged couple with no kids. Wife says “I don’t like the wood floors. If you can put down carpet and repaint to something brighter, we’d be interested. Also you will need to replace the stove.”
I’m thinking: The wood floors are new laminate that I just spent $1400 and two days installing. The paint is all new also. If you want to remodel a house, go buy one yourself.
I’m saying: Here’s a rental application. The application fee is $25. The property is being rented in its newly remodeled condition.

#3
Family. Made appointment and met me at house. Husband says “I need a 3 car garage.”
I’m thinking: The 2 in 4/3/2 stands for TWO car garage. Plus the photos show it’s a two car garage, so why are you here wasting my time and yours? Did you think I was hiding a third garage bay in the back yard?
I’m saying: Here’s a rental application. The application fee is $25. This house only has a two car garage.

#4
Very young guy, young 20’s maybe, called me from sign in yard. He’s parked at house. Says: “ I need a big place for my girlfriend and our 3 month old since we want to have more kids. Could you help me out and rent it to me for $xxx” (about ½ the rental rate).
I’m thinking: So you’re requesting that I contribute half your rent so you can have more kids that you can’t house and support.
I’m saying: I’m happy to provide an application. The application fee is $25. Sorry the rental rate is firm.
.

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Don KonipolBusiness Member
Investor · The Woodlands TX / Avon, CT · Member since 2009 · 6k+ posts · 10k+ votes
14y

Last year I was renting a high end high rise condo - rent $1800 per month. A guy asked if I could give him the first 6 months free and waive the security deposit, after he found a job he would make double payments the second 6 months.

Had a tenant a few years back that signed a 12 month lease. always paid her rent on time. The lease of course becomes a month to month if she stays on. I asked her if she desired to renew the lease at expiration, or would she be moving. She said that since she fullfilled her lease obligation by paying 12 months rent she would stay on. She honestly believed that once she paid 12 months rent the apartment was hers for free for as long as she wanted!

But the best one was the tenant that always had an excuse for late rent. One month he told me he had sent the check in on the 2nd, of course I had not received it by the 5th. When I did receive it it was dated the 6th. Called the tenant and told him if he was going to lie at least pre date the check.
The next month I send the tenant an invoice for the rent, late fee, plus $250. The tenant calls and asks what the additional $250 is for. I told him it was a "lying fee". A couple days later I received the rent, late fee, and an additional $500. Called the tenant to ask why he sent an additional $500. He said he knew he would lie to me again in the future so he was prepaying an additional lying fee! BTW, although he is no longer a tenant and hasn't been for some time, he is now a friend. The entertainment value of this guy far outweighted the aggravation.

Private Mortgage Financing Partners, LLC
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  • Dawn AnastasiPro Member
    Rental Property Investor · Milwaukee, WI · Member since 2013 · 6k+ posts · 4k+ votes
    12y

    I was so anxious to be able to get some good quotes for this thread, and now I have some. This is for a 3 bedroom SF at $825/month with no pets allowed:

    "Can the rent be $800?"

    Sure it can -- somewhere else.

    "I only have one pitbull."

    Last time I checked, "one" > "zero".

    "My monthly income averages out to 1900.00 a month. I am looking because the management that I am renting from refuses to fix anything that needs to be fixed and is evicting me for not paying an 85.00 late fee and the 160.00 to stop the eviction."

    $1900 doesn't equal 3x rent and you're currently getting evicted. Next!

    "my mom and sister is on social security and can't afford both rent and security deposit at the same time."

    Then you cannot afford to live here.

    But on the plus side, I did get this comment today when I called someone back:

    "I thought your place was a scam because it looks so nice!"

  • Investor · Fort Lauderdale, FL · Member since 2012 · 1k+ posts · 465 votes
    12y

    "if I sign a lease, would you knock $50 off the rent?"

  • Roy N.Pro Member
    Rental Property Investor · Fredericton, New Brunswick · Member since 2013 · 7k+ posts · 4k+ votes
    12y

    This was a totally new one to me:

    Tenant {on the 6th of the month}: "You cannot charge me $45.00 for being late. I could have paid my rent on the 1st, but I wanted to speak with you first."

    Me: "You see, the way this works is: it is necessary I have the money by the first of the month; if you have the money it's really quite irrelevant" {looking at phone} "I do not see where you tried to call, text, or e-mail me in the past week, I am not that hard to reach."

    Tenant: "I'm not paying a late fee when I had the money. It's not right."

    Me {handing Tenant a Notice to Vacate}: "Well, I'm here now and if it makes you feel better, you can consider the $45.00 an appearance fee. I'll be back on the 21st to inspect the unit and collect your keys."

  • Investor · Austin, TX · Member since 2014 · 217 posts · 170 votes
    12y

    Heard this one yesterday-

    "I'm not sure what my previous landlord will say about me when you call him, since we accidentally burned his house down."

  • Marc RamsayPro Member
    Investor · Ojochal, Costa Rica · Member since 2013 · 288 posts · 164 votes
    12y

    @Jason C. Having been on the receiving end of that issue I have a few ideas... :)

  • Investor · Middletown, NJ · Member since 2008 · 2k+ posts · 1k+ votes
    12y

    @Jason C. , but were they good tenants before the fire? :)

    Yesterday's applicant for our 2/2 condo in FL - young couple came to see the condo, which is $1150. Told my contractor they wanted it, called me to ask for the application, and when I texted the husband this morning to see if he got the email, he thanked me for my time and said his wife really wants to spend less than $1100 a month.

    I refrained from asking why the heck they weren't looking at under $1100 a month properties :)

  • Investor · Middletown, NJ · Member since 2008 · 2k+ posts · 1k+ votes
    12y

    Applicants are being so helpful with this thread ;) Yesterday's email exchange:

    Applicant: Do you accept Section 8?

    Me: Yes, how much is your voucher?

    Applicant: $1175

    Me: That's fine, rent is $1150

    Applicant: Do you have any other rentals available?

    Me: No

    Applicant: Like in Coral Springs, Pembroke Pines, Margate, Tamarac?

    Me: No (I'm thinking, why are you calling about a condo in Sunrise which is not on your list?)

    Applicant: Please disregard, I see in the ad you require renter's insurance

    I'm seriously thinking that tenants are aware of this thread and are happy to contribute!

  • Property Manager · Livonia, MI · Member since 2011 · 4k+ posts · 1k+ votes
    12y

    i urge my tenants to have rental insurance, but not a requirement. i never had RI when i rented.

  • Memphis, TN · Member since 2013 · 969 posts · 524 votes
    12y

    I urge them to have renters insurance as well but it is not a requirement with my leases either.

  • Investor · Middletown, NJ · Member since 2008 · 2k+ posts · 1k+ votes
    12y

    The point was more that she called about a unit in Sunrise, and asked if there were rentals in other towns; the renter's insurance was just a weird ending.

  • Dawn AnastasiPro Member
    Rental Property Investor · Milwaukee, WI · Member since 2013 · 6k+ posts · 4k+ votes
    12y

    Okay, I have another one, but it's not what someone "said" but what they "did". I had an applicant come to a showing for a place advertised as "no pets, no smokers". Well when she was writing her application, I saw she had a pack of cigarettes in her pocket. When she came to me to hand in her application, she had her hand in her pocket covering them. Like I was born yesterday!

  • SFR Investor · Dripping Springs, TX · Member since 2013 · 6 posts · 5 votes
    12y

    Recently my $1,500 single family listing on Trulia was highjacked and relisted for $700. The scammer was not able to delete my contact information however. Suddenly I was getting quite a few calls! My favorite was a woman who wanted to know if I was also including lawn care and utilities and if I could wave the security deposit.

  • Homeowner · Havertown, PA · Member since 2013 · 85 posts · 16 votes
    12y

    @Jason C. LOL!! I would still call previous landlord, just to get the story. :)

  • Property Manager · Livonia, MI · Member since 2011 · 4k+ posts · 1k+ votes
    12y

    the "squirrel" tenant texted and asked if we want to adopt her dauther's pet hamster. the daugther does not live at the house.

  • Property Manager · Livonia, MI · Member since 2011 · 4k+ posts · 1k+ votes
    12y

    a tenant said they have a clog in the toilet. he said "the guts should be changed". plumber snaked it (after i snaked it 1 month ago). the plumber found nothing.

    Tenant texted back and said "thanks for snaking the toilet, but still an issue. it needs to be flushed twice every now and then. I think the stack pipe needs to be enlarged".

    the dude won't know a stack pipe if it hit him in the head.

  • Bedford, NH · Member since 2012 · 2k+ posts · 1k+ votes
    12y

    Lots of good stories. Some don't match the thread title, though. There is nothing dumb about trying to negotiate terms. It is no more "dumb" for a prospective tenant to try to negotiate a lower rent than it is for a prospective landlord to attempt to negotiate a lower sale price.

  • Mindy JensenPro Member
    BiggerPockets Money Podcast Host · Longmont, CO · Member since 2014 · 7k+ posts · 10k+ votes
    12y

    "Would it be OK if I ran daycare out of this home?" Um, no.

    "I have 3 large dogs. Would you put up a fence?" On this 1/2 acre lot? probably not. You must have missed the 'no pets' part of the ad...

    "I can't afford the security deposit..." As she drives up in a brand-new, $80,000 SUV. Good luck with your search...

  • Saint Cloud, FL · Member since 2013 · 49 posts · 4 votes
    12y

    my first property rental about 3 months ago:

    perspective renters say they have no pets and the reason there moving is the home there renting is being sold.

    I meet them and show them the property, they (husband & wife) fill out app and pay the 25.00 each credit check fee

    credit check company e-mails them asking if its ok i run the credit, she said yes and husband never respond

    In the mean time i'm trying to verify with owner that lives 100 miles away

    first thing i did was go to county property appraisers website to verify that they provided correct owners name - results = no, different name = 1 red flag

    I call them to ask about this and they said it's a property manger 100 miles away (when owner lives 5 miles away) I do more research and find her on facebook crying about being evicted, mom stopped talking to her, etc...

    ohh on her app she listed as having 3 service dogs as well but stated no pets on the phone.

    DENIED

    ps. check to make sure that the person whom they say they rent from actually owns the property as they can often provide a friends name and have them cover for them. also look at the house on Google and ask a question like thats a nice color blue you pained the house did you just paint it (when Google shows house being tan or red)

  • Dallas, TX · Member since 2013 · 4k+ posts · 744 votes
    12y

    Most tenants don't know who they are renting from other then a name because landlords love to hide behind an LLC.


    Joe Gore

  • Saint Cloud, FL · Member since 2013 · 49 posts · 4 votes
    12y
    Originally posted by @Account Closed:
    Most tenants don't know who they are renting from other then a name because landlords love to hide behind an LLC.


    Joe Gore

    that wasnt the case in this situation as the property tax's showed owner and not an LLC.

  • Rental Property Investor · Clarkston, GA · Member since 2012 · 2k+ posts · 1k+ votes
    12y

    @Randy Gross I use mrlandlord.com I click the $9.95 and filled out a simple app for me the landlord and I'm doing my own credit / criminal checks without needing the renter to agree or fill out anything. My rental app collects the SSN, DL number, past addresses etc, I enter that and in a minute I have my renter check.

    You found out the problem with the email the renter system.

  • Real Estate Investor · Audubon, PA · Member since 2009 · 13k+ posts · 8k+ votes
    12y
    Originally posted by @Randy Gross:

    ...

    ohh on her app she listed as having 3 service dogs as well but stated no pets on the phone.

    DENIED

    ...

    Under Fair Housing regs, service animals are NOT considered to be pets. Do a search of the BP forums and you will find lots of discussion about that.

  • Marc RamsayPro Member
    Investor · Ojochal, Costa Rica · Member since 2013 · 288 posts · 164 votes
    12y

    A couple of days ago we received a call from a lady with a S8 voucher that sounded great but was hesitant to do a background check... once we coaxed the reason out of her, in an effort to save her and ourselves a trip and the background fee, she told us all about her recent eviction and felony drug charges from the 1990's until about 5 years ago. She swears up and down after telling us all this that she is a changed person... sorry, but after the first felony drug offense, it took another 15 years for it to sink in that you need to change your lifestyle?

    Another younger girl called today and was so excited that she had a part time job and made between $900 - $1000/month. She didn't understand why we thought she may be over-extending her "affordability" by wanting a two bedroom at $625/month..

  • Saint Cloud, FL · Member since 2013 · 49 posts · 4 votes
    12y
    Originally posted by @Steve Babiak:
    Originally posted by @Randy Gross:

    ...
    ohh on her app she listed as having 3 service dogs as well but stated no pets on the phone.

    DENIED

    ...

    Under Fair Housing regs, service animals are NOT considered to be pets. Do a search of the BP forums and you will find lots of discussion about that.

    Thank you, I'm very aware of that that is not why they were denied they were denied due to the fact that they lied about whom they pay rent to and that they admitted on there own Facebook page that there being evicted. anyone can say there pet is a service animal and you can't deny on that even though sometimes there claim that it's a companion pet that legally makes it a service pet

  • Andrew SyriosPro Member
    Moderator
    Residential Real Estate Investor · Kansas City, MO · Member since 2014 · 10k+ posts · 5k+ votes
    12y

    I hear "I got the money" a lot. As if that makes up for the 3 evictions, 2 felonies and utter lack of employment somehow.

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