Tenant Applicants say the dumbest things

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Tenant Applicants say the dumbest things

Robin Grimes
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.

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  • Arnie Guida
    Residential Landlord · Greenfield, WI · Member since 2013 · 299 posts · 126 votes
    12y
    My late fee is $40 after 5 days. "If we pay it 5 days early is the rent $40 less?" Maybe it isn't dumb, but I thought it was kinda phunny...
    7Reply
  • Jon Klaus
    Developer · Garland, TX · Member since 2008 · 8k+ posts · 4k+ votes
    12y
    Originally posted by @Arnie Guida:

    My late fee is $40 after 5 days.

    "If we pay it 5 days early is the rent $40 less?"

    Maybe it isn't dumb, but I thought it was kinda phunny...

     I would pay the rent 100 days early and it would be free!

    9Reply
  • Aly W.
    Investor · Middletown, NJ · Member since 2008 · 2k+ posts · 1k+ votes
    12y

    Love that math!

    0Reply
  • Tristan Cortez
    Rental Property Investor · San Antonio, TX · Member since 2015 · 272 posts · 50 votes
    11y

     This thread is so funny, does anyone else have more stories?

    0Reply
  • Alvin Taylor
    Mooringsport, LA · Member since 2014 · 25 posts · 31 votes
    11y
    Originally posted by @Jason C.:

    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."

     I think this was the best so far.

    5Reply
  • Baxter Stegall
    Charlotte, NC · Member since 2015 · 17 posts · 10 votes
    11y
    Originally posted by @Alvin Taylor:
    Originally posted by @Jason C.:

    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."

     I think this was the best so far.

    I had a tenant catch a rental on fire and have the audacity to ask if they would get their security deposit and rent for the month back....while the fire department was still there!

    As far as applicant silliness...I could literally write a book, and I am seriously considering it. I've forgot more stories than I can remember, but this thread is bringing them back.  

    My company owns a multi-family building that used to have a large sign in front of it saying "1BR efficiency, W/D connections, water/sewer included", or something to that effect.  

    I had so many prospectives call and swear the sign said that we paid for ALL utilities that I began offering to meet people at the sign, and if they could show me where the sign said we paid all utilities, I would give them the apartment free for a year.  

    I eventually took the sign down because the arguments got old.  And no one ever showed up when I challenged them despite numerous promises of such.  

    We get regular calls about wanting to rent a 1BR apartment but the applicant has 3 kids, a husband, and a dog.  We have a strict no pets policy.  We also go by a 2+1 policy that is the unspoken rule in town.  2 people per bedroom + 1 person.  I'm not a big fan of that, but I don't feel like being a test case.  

    A recent applicant checked out okay, came in and paid her deposit, and just disappeared for 3 weeks.  She signed a lease that was to start a few days afterwards but never paid the rent.  After 3 weeks of trying to contact her, I found out where she lied on her application (we have language saying any lie is grounds for disqualification in the app and lease).  She finally answers the phone and I tell her we cannot rent to her based on her absence and the lies.  She has the stones to demand that I give her $200 for her "inconvenience".  I told her she is lucky I don't file for an eviction based on non-payment.  She went away quietly and quickly.  I refunded her deposit immediately. 

    Another recent applicant applied and did not meet our rental criteria.  We require 3x rent, clean criminal/credit/etc.  Less than 24 hours after our call telling her she didn't meet the criteria, she submitted another application (same DL#, SSN, etc.) but with income that met the 3x rent criteria, actually surpassed it.  

    I've got dozens, of not hundreds, more stories about ridiculous applicants.  Most have been filed away in the back of my head and I'll remember if I see a similar story/experience.  

    You do this for long enough and things get to be tired, but the stories from applicants and tenants are what really keep me coming back.  I love what I do for the crap that I'm told.  I guess I'm a little bit sadistic in that regard.  :)

    3Reply
  • Aly W.
    Investor · Middletown, NJ · Member since 2008 · 2k+ posts · 1k+ votes
    11y

    We have a 2/2 condo available for rent. Today's phone call:

    Her - When can I see the condo?

    Me - Do you have any pets?

    Her - Yes, a Lab puppy

    Me - The ad says no full grown pets over 25 pounds

    Her - Well, he won't be full grown for 2 years

    Me (dumbfounded) - Full grown Labs are over 25 pounds, and it doesn't take 2 years to get there

    Her - Oh, well is there any way....

    Me - Thank you for calling

    2Reply
  • Lee Nugent
    Investor · Naples FL and Shreveport, LA · Member since 2015 · 93 posts · 39 votes
    11y
    Originally posted by @Don Konipol:

    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.

     Thank you, this was gold!  

    5Reply
  • Donna Paget
    Investor · Ocala, FL · Member since 2014 · 11 posts · 8 votes
    11y

    Yeah, great thread! 

    So you know you've had crazy renters when your new prospective renter and their 5 (maybe 6) kids pile out the van. Oh, that's not the crazy part. When they left after the viewing, I found a note under my windshield wiper from one of my neighbors that said, "don't you ever learn?"

    Thankfully, they didn't qualify!

    7Reply
  • Marian Smith
    Real Estate Investor · Williamson County, TX · Member since 2011 · 1k+ posts · 961 votes
    11y

         I had a couple pull up in one of those enormous trucks, double cab high off the ground and pretty new.  They looked around, made a big deal of checking the water pressure and rhen said they'd take the place.  They filled out the application on the spot---he was CEO of such and such constuction and she was VP of Finance for the same company.  The requested I not run a credit check as they in the process of trying to finance a Mercedes and didn't want it to mess up the app.  Then they wanted to give me a big wad of cash on the spot.  Oh, and there was some offer in there to work on the house for rent or something (property remodeled 3 years prior ). 

          Then I had  tenant I adored.  He requested we sign the lease over lunch so we had Vietnamese food near the property.  He is a self-described "foodie" and the only requst he had of me was for a second oven rack, which I miraculously had because my personal oven came with 3........except for a request a few months later he emailed and asked for " a couple" of household fire extinguihers.  I now provide them, under the kitchen sink, just one.

        Same guy.  I go over for something and I see the house key hanging from the devorative doorbell.  i text him that the house key is hanging from the doirbell.  He replies "my bad" and that he is "bad with secuity."  Guy 's an engineer....computer systems in airplanes and such.

    6Reply
  • Bryan N.
    Investor · Hampton Roads, VA · Member since 2014 · 1k+ posts · 418 votes
    11y

    From another forum I posted in

    Phone call I got...

    Tenant - My credit is bad from a divorce and my previous landlord evicted me.

    Me - why did he/she evict you?

    Tenant - my ex wife's fault and he wouldn't fix the heat, but I promise I can take real good care of your property.

    Me - how?

    Tenant - I'll keep it real clean (he chuckles) and I have a fist full of dollars.

    Me - good luck (I hang up)

    The guy kept emailing me for two weeks telling me how good he could take care of my property. I eventually auto routed his emails to trash  

    I could go on and on with this topic.  I love playing the who is lying game. 

    1Reply
  • Joe Weh
    Midland, MI · Member since 2015 · 11 posts · 14 votes
    11y

    Recieved this text today. Btw, She's breaking the lease 8 months early and moving out in 2 weeks, said she thinks her kid could be exposed to lead in my new house. Id pay to have her go. Constant headache. Here is what I recieved at 8:00am 

    ""I need you to put the consumer back in your name asap because I end up getting a $600 bill and they put me on a payment plan with a shutoff notice! Well I missed my payment I can't pay them tell friday and I don't want them to shut it off! My taxes haven't came yet???? as of last night everything was still on and water running!""

    Lol, not joking. I told her to better pack up sooner then later or she will be responsible for damages do to frozen pipes (zero degrees here). Said she will move this weekend. We will see! 

    I learned so much on bigger pockets since becoming a landlord 4 months ago, I'm a different person really. Very prepared! 

    5Reply
  • George P.
    Property Manager · Livonia, MI · Member since 2011 · 4k+ posts · 1k+ votes
    11y

    Joe,  it's funny,  but you gotta put some insulation in that house.  and check the windows... 

    1Reply
  • Joe Weh
    Midland, MI · Member since 2015 · 11 posts · 14 votes
    11y

    I would think that too George, windows are double pane and the house is well insulated. It's a longer story really.  Windows wide open when it was 10 below zero, all vents in the house blocked (every single one) crawl space left wide open by tenant (I had screwed it doubly shut) and the heat on almost 80. Wonder why the bill was so high, I witnessed this all myself when she said it was cold in the house and I had to "do something about it". I almost fell over when I seen all this. I lived there for 10 years and never had an issue. The window upstairs was wide open, it was unreal. She said she had no clue why. 

    1Reply
  • Joe Weh
    Midland, MI · Member since 2015 · 11 posts · 14 votes
    11y

    also "no dogs allowed". *hides barking dog in back room when I come over.

    4Reply
  • George P.
    Property Manager · Livonia, MI · Member since 2011 · 4k+ posts · 1k+ votes
    11y

    oh,  well.  then she has nothing..  :) 

    1Reply
  • Ross Bernard
    Real Estate Agent · Durham, NC · Member since 2013 · 81 posts · 39 votes
    11y

    I rent out two of the three BR in my house. I had a showing with a potential roommate. Upon opening the door and meeting him, I could tell something was off, but wasn't sure what it was. I showed him the living room and kitchen and he stopped me and said, "I've seen enough, I'll take it." I hadn't even shown him the upstairs or bedroom that was available. Big red flag. I say, "OK I will just need to run a credit/background check, will I find anything?" He says he has 3 DUI's. I tell him that will not work. He says it's not a problem because he doesn't drive anymore. At that point I realized what was off about him: he was hammered drunk. When I told him to leave he got upset, saying he payed for a taxi ride here. He then left several belligerent voice mails.

    1Reply
  • George P.
    Property Manager · Livonia, MI · Member since 2011 · 4k+ posts · 1k+ votes
    11y

    i went to change a sink faucet the other day. the tenant (squirrel lady), sat in the living room the whole time watching Northwoods Inc or whatever the hell the "cops in the woods of Maine" show is called.

    she was giving me a play by play the entire time and was getting out of the chair waving her finger upset that the cops wont book "those dirty criminals that destroy our woods".

    4Reply
  • Michael Modesto
    Investor · Chino, CA · Member since 2014 · 76 posts · 30 votes
    11y

    When inspecting a minor faucet leak one time, I had a tenant complain to me that she was hungry... like it's my responsibility to take care of her.  Her kitchen had food in it... not sure what she expected me to do.

    6Reply
  • Patrick Cline
    Real Estate Investor · Ocean View, NJ · Member since 2015 · 2 posts · 18 votes
    11y

    And then there was the applicant who during his 10:30 AM appointment to see the apartment, pulled out a beer from his coat and started drinking it during our interview. 

    18Reply
  • Stephen E.
    St Thomas, Ontario · Member since 2013 · 575 posts · 408 votes
    11y

    @Patrick Cline Reminds me of the 10.30 am meeting with a tenant who was telling me he was going to break his lease, following a host of maintenance and other issues. He went to the fridge and got out an extra large size can of beer and drank it throughout our interview so as to feel more comfortable. I did a maintenance inspection a week later and found recycling bins full of these same cans. This was one lease break I did not fight.

    But to get back on tenant applicants my favourite is the one who called up wanting to put a deposit down on a property sight unseen, because townhouses in that area were, she said, very desirable. I went over our requirements and got to pets. She described having a full sized dog (50 lbs +) and a puppy (!) but then her partner said in an anxious whisper that was clearly audible on the phone, "say that they are therapy dogs!" I got him on the phone the next day and smelling a rat asked if he had ever had any dealings with the Landlord and Tenant Board (housing court here). Long pause, then he said yes. I asked if he was being evicted, he said no, he was on a payment plan to catch up on his rent. A real catch.

    The answer to my screening journey was pretty clear by this stage but he offered a landlord reference so I thought I would call, and I got one of the corporate landlords' employees on site, who proceeded to lie through her teeth in response to direct questioning she said the rent had never been late, there had never been any issues, and they would rent to them again. When I said that the tenant had admitted that the landlord had taken them to the landlord and tenant board she just went quiet and said that she didn't know anything about that. I used to think it was just small landlords who would lie to get bad tenants off their hands but now I know you can't totally trust corporate landlord references either.

    2Reply
  • Steve Osowicz
    Real Estate Broker · Louisville, KY · Member since 2014 · 121 posts · 91 votes
    11y

    Ah, I could tell so many tales. 

    - One time were leasing out a house in a neighboring county (Oldham) great schools, nice area, very desirable. I am sitting at my office and a guy comes storming in with purpose, decked in full suit, sunglasses still on, very assertive. Just walks in past office manager, right into my office and slaps down a stack of cash. 

    Me - only my eyes look up, no expression on my face, very unimpressed by his display. 

    He says loudly and confidently, "I am a general manager and owner of a new roofing company (unfortunately we get a lot of fly by night roofing companies in Kentucky/Sou Indiana due to storm damage) and I want such and such house in Oldham County, I am ready to pay deposit and first months rent right now".

    Me - "Sir, you will need to set up an appointment to view the house, we need proof of income, we do a credit/criminal background check first."

    Him -"Look, I know I want the house, I have cash ready, I saw the pictures online and it is great area, income is no problem, my credit has been damaged due to a divorce but no other issues, we can get the lease started today".

    I have never had someone rush to get in a property that worked out well, so I need to dig a little bit deeper, something is off. 

    Me - "Sir, it sounds like everything is okay, but we still need to run a credit/criminal check". I can see he is getting frustrated, and I pull out my closer, "Do you have any tax liens or levies that are not in repayment?".

    Bingo! - Shoulders slump, eyes drop, he starts to stammer a little at this point, "Uh, well, there might be something I in the process of taking care of".

    Me - "Great, you get that taken care of and then we will get started on the application, also we don't take cash you will need to convert that to a cashier's check or money order".

    Never heard back from him.  

    6Reply
  • George Paiva
    Investor · Milford, CT · Member since 2012 · 592 posts · 285 votes
    11y

    Here's a good one I got today via text:

    Tenant: George I have to babysit today but Jacob is here. The front burner had sparks come out of it this morning..just fyi. We had oil delivered yesterday and I applied to be on a plan w superior but we are cold again :/. Last fill up only lasted about 3 to 4 wks. It's been cold for a couple of days. 6:37 AM

    Tenant: Also the light in oven stays on but oven is off.. 6:38 AM

    Tenant: Disregard last msg..I was cleaning and must have hit the switch..:) 6:39 AM

    I didn't even respond.... :)

    0Reply
  • Ursula B.
    Involved In Real Estate · Winston-Salem, NC · Member since 2013 · 277 posts · 188 votes
    11y

    Approved an applicant for a rental and she complained about our process to approve additional applicants until the deposit/first months rent was paid.  After explaining to her our process and why we do it, she still complained and sent me a passive/aggressive email about it.  After hitting the roof and having to calm myself down, I responded with:  "I understand you do not like our policies and procedures.  We would not be a good fit for you as a landlord.  Your approval is rescinded.  Good luck to you."

    She just barely passed our scoring system - and only because I rounded up.  Glad to have dodged that headache.  I don't do foolishness and don't have time for nonsense.

    Ursula

    15Reply
  • Aly W.
    Investor · Middletown, NJ · Member since 2008 · 2k+ posts · 1k+ votes
    11y

    And today's first call:

    Tenant: I'm calling about the 2/2 in Sunrise

    Me: Yes, it's still available. When are you looking to move?

    Tenant: May 1st

    Me: We're expecting to rent it as soon as possible, so just keep checking craigslist to see if it's available by then.

    Tenant: I don't do craiglist. How much is the rent and what do I need to move in?

    Me: Where did you see the ad? All the information is there.

    Tenant (getting testy): Ma'am, I saw this on Trulia and sometimes the info is wrong. I'm asking how much the rent is and what do I need to move in.

    Me: The rent is $1200 and the condo association requires a minimum 625 FICO score for approval. Is that an issue?

    Tenant (getting testier): Ma'am, did I say it was an issue?? 

    Me: Hung up

    Tenant: Called back, I ignored.

    Do applicants really think that if they're belligerent during an inquiry, that a landlord would even consider having them as a tenant?

    3Reply
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