Tenant Applicants say the dumbest things

General Landlording & Rental Properties
14yFollow

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.
.

294Reply
31,282 views

Most Popular Reply

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
WebsiteView Page
230Reply
See this reply in the discussion

1572 Replies

Jump to latestLatest
  • Steve Babiak
    Real Estate Investor · Audubon, PA · Member since 2009 · 13k+ posts · 8k+ votes
    11y
    Originally posted by @George Paiva:

    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.... :)

    George, that exchange sounds like a tenant you already accepted, not an applicant (as in the topic title) ...

    1Reply
  • Ursula B.
    Involved In Real Estate · Winston-Salem, NC · Member since 2013 · 277 posts · 188 votes
    11y

    @Aly W. I think for some reason applicants believe that landlords are desperate to rent their property and will take any warm body with cash.  That may be true of some landlords, but I'll take a vacant property any day over a bad tenant.   Begging, pleading, having an attitude and telling me you can pay the deposit RIGHT NOW does nothing for me...other than make me that less likely to rent to you.

    Ursula

    14Reply
  • Aly W.
    Investor · Middletown, NJ · Member since 2008 · 2k+ posts · 1k+ votes
    11y

    You're right on @Ursula B. ! I've gotten calls over the years from applicants who immediately start talking over me, demanding information that's clearly in the ad, and telling me how they're willing to pay the security deposit. 

    If it wasn't for this topic, and the wealth of material I get from staying on the phone for more than 30 seconds, I'd hang up on them sooner ;)

    4Reply
  • Matthew Paul
    Severna Park, MD · Member since 2013 · 7k+ posts · 7k+ votes
    11y

    Had a young man and and his girlfriend look at a 2/1 I have . He wanted to know " how much I would take off the rent if he cut the grass "    NOTHING , it is your job to gut the grass , shovel the walks and take out the trash . 

    3Reply
  • Dawn AnastasiPro Member
    Rental Property Investor · Milwaukee, WI · Member since 2013 · 6k+ posts · 4k+ votes
    11y
    Originally posted by @Aly W.:

    If it wasn't for this topic, and the wealth of material I get from staying on the phone for more than 30 seconds, I'd hang up on them sooner ;)

     Having applicants and showings can be frustrating.  I, too, keep hoping for more material to be able to share.  Unluckily, I don't get that much.

    Podcast Guest on Show #29
    1Reply
  • Aly W.
    Investor · Middletown, NJ · Member since 2008 · 2k+ posts · 1k+ votes
    11y

    My contractor and I are compiling a book :) His stories are great too, as he does nearly all of the showings. There are those who come in and proceed to tell him what to change in the properties, or critique the work that was already done, or have kids that are out of control, or walk just inside the front door, look left and right, and say "thank you" and leave. 

    0Reply
  • Mark Forest
    Real Estate Investor · Fenton, MI · Member since 2008 · 946 posts · 153 votes
    11y
    Originally posted by @Rob K.:

    She then "lectured" me that Section 8 is not welfare. I asked her where she thinks the money comes from and she replied, "The government. They make it."

    Sure , didn't you know those are Obama bucks from his "stash?"  

    6Reply
  • Mark Forest
    Real Estate Investor · Fenton, MI · Member since 2008 · 946 posts · 153 votes
    11y

    "Your ad says no pets, but I just have a little dog that is more like my child than an animal."

    Her:  Are there other people looking at your house?  Me:  Yes several people are interested.  Her: Oh I don't like to compete.  I just want to show up and get a house.

    6Reply
  • Aly W.
    Investor · Middletown, NJ · Member since 2008 · 2k+ posts · 1k+ votes
    11y

    And today's winner (so far):

    Applicant: I would like to make an appointment to see the condo

    Me: The condo association requires a minimum 625 FICO score for approval; is your score at least 625?

    Applicant: I don't have a credit score, my husband and I won a lottery to come here from (Central American country).

    Me: Do you have jobs?

    Applicant: Not yet, but we demonstrated that we have enough savings for several months to be allowed to come here

    Me: How do you plan to pay the rent? 

    Applicant: We plan to find jobs as soon as possible.

    Me: Call back when you do

    I'll refrain (for now) from a political rant about allowing people to come here through some kind of lottery with only a few months worth of savings.

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

    And today's 2nd call:

    Applicant: I'm calling about the 2/2 in Sunrise. Is it renovated?

    Me: Did you see the photos? That's how it looks.

    Applicant: Yes, but is it renovated?

    Me: It looks just like the photos.

    Applicant: But sometimes the photos are old. Is it renovated?

    Me (keeping this thread and my future book in mind, and fighting the urge to hang up): It looks just like the photos. 

    Applicant: Ok, when can I see it?

    1Reply
  • Lucy Costa
    Kingston, Ontario · Member since 2015 · 3 posts · 0 votes
    11y

    I live in Kingston Ontario in Canada and I run a 114 unit apartment building. I know exactly what you mean when the call or reply to ads posted. I wonder why they dont actually read of think about what they say before they actually do say it.   LOL

    0Reply
  • Aly W.
    Investor · Middletown, NJ · Member since 2008 · 2k+ posts · 1k+ votes
    11y

    Exactly! But I've had many applicants who admit they don't read the ads. It reminded me of a caller a few days ago, a very nice woman looking for a condo for her 2 sons. And their dog.

    My ad clearly says, in 3 places IN CAPS, no full grow pets over 25 pounds, no exceptions.

    Applicant's mother: I see you take pets.

    Me: Yes, you can have two full grown pets under 25 pounds each. What do you have?

    Applicant: I'm calling for my sons, they have a lab/dalmatian mix.

    Me: I'm fairly sure that dog is over 25 pounds.

    Applicant: Yes, we call him Moose.

    Me: Seriously? The ad says no more than 25 pounds for a full grown animal, did you see that?

    Applicant: Yes, but they're having a really hard time finding a place. 2 realtors haven't been able to help them.

    Me: I can't help them either. Why don't you take their dog?

    Applicant: I would, but I have other dogs. 

    Me (still on the phone because she was actually very nice, and I have my book to consider): Why don't they rent a house instead of a condo? Less restrictions.

    Applicant: They can't afford a house.

    Me: Some friendly advice to your sons - if they're renting, get a small dog. Animals called Moose rarely qualify for condo approval.

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

    lol.  I'd buy aly's book. 

    6Reply
  • Marc RamsayPro Member
    Investor · Ojochal, Costa Rica · Member since 2013 · 288 posts · 164 votes
    11y

    I'd like to know if any of you other owners are having a similar issue. I have a property manager and his phone number is published on all our online listings, however I have been getting phone calls on my personal number (which is not listed anywhere in relation to the rental property) asking if I have a 1 or 2 bdr available and so forth. The calls are coming from all over the USA and not from the state where the property is located.

    So I start to ask questions like 'Where did you get this number?'. The answer is always 'My friend gave it to me' or ' my boyfriend got it'. So I started to figure it was some kind of marketing company or something that managed to get my phone number. So I started to ask more direct questions like 'Who are you working for?' to which the response is always 'No one, I am just looking for an apartment.'. Then I started asking 'Why are you calling from out of state', and the answer is always, we're moving to Ohio in a few weeks.

    Then I got another one of these calls and I asked the girl who she worked for and she said either apartments.com or apartmentrentals.com (can't remember which), so I thanked her for being upfront and I answered her questions. Again, it was an out of state number so I knew something was up. 

    Just wondering if anyone else was getting calls like these.

    0Reply
  • Aly W.
    Investor · Middletown, NJ · Member since 2008 · 2k+ posts · 1k+ votes
    11y

    Today's winning call (so far)

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

    Me: It's still available, and you need a minimum 625 FICO score to be approved by the association.

    Applicant: My credit is very good, over 600....maybe 750 (hmmm....that's quite a broad range)

    Me: Also, no evictions or criminal history

    Applicant: No problem

    Me: And as the ad says, there's a $2000 security deposit required, plus the first month's rent

    Applicant: My credit is great, there is no reason for me to pay a $2000 security deposit

    Me: Ok, bye

    I just didn't see where this would go, other than collecting a little more material for my book :)

    2Reply
  • Jennifer T.Pro Member
    Investor · New Orleans, LA · Member since 2014 · 1k+ posts · 944 votes
    11y
    Originally posted by @Marc Ramsay:

    I'd like to know if any of you other owners are having a similar issue. I have a property manager and his phone number is published on all our online listings, however I have been getting phone calls on my personal number (which is not listed anywhere in relation to the rental property) asking if I have a 1 or 2 bdr available and so forth. The calls are coming from all over the USA and not from the state where the property is located.

    So I start to ask questions like 'Where did you get this number?'. The answer is always 'My friend gave it to me' or ' my boyfriend got it'. So I started to figure it was some kind of marketing company or something that managed to get my phone number. So I started to ask more direct questions like 'Who are you working for?' to which the response is always 'No one, I am just looking for an apartment.'. Then I started asking 'Why are you calling from out of state', and the answer is always, we're moving to Ohio in a few weeks.

    Then I got another one of these calls and I asked the girl who she worked for and she said either apartments.com or apartmentrentals.com (can't remember which), so I thanked her for being upfront and I answered her questions. Again, it was an out of state number so I knew something was up. 

    Just wondering if anyone else was getting calls like these.

    When I was first renting my duplex and was a newbie landlord, I had considered using Section 8.  Didn't know much about it.  But entered my information and the property information into their database.  On two different occasions over the last few years, I'd suddenly get a round of calls from prospective Section 8 tenants about an address...that wasn't mine.  Somehow, I don't know how this happened, but TWICE my name and phone number was "matched" on the Section 8 website with the wrong property.

    I also had someone put my phone number on their "For Rent" sign.  I thought someone was punking me, because how does a landlord write the wrong phone number on their own sign?  So, sure enough, I went to the property people kept calling me about.  Totally different neighborhood, about five miles from my house.  And, right there, the For Rent sign did indeed have my phone number on it, lol.  Still scratching my head on that one!

    0Reply
  • Deborah BurianPro Member
    Rental Property Investor · Oklahoma City, OK · Member since 2013 · 1k+ posts · 412 votes
    11y

    I just had a fun one... "So...are you a management company."  Me, "yes."  Tenant - "So, you're going to have an application and screen and everything."  Me, "yes."  Tenant -"*Sigh*, ok... Goodby"

    12Reply
  • Matthew Paul
    Severna Park, MD · Member since 2013 · 7k+ posts · 7k+ votes
    11y

    We just got 10 inches of snow . I have a rental where I use the garage on the back of the property . Real long driveway like 300 ft slight uphill incline to leave .  The tenants were driving up and down the drive packed some of the snow .  I run thru there about 6 pm and push it off , there is ice underneath .  So the tenents girlfriend of this month calls me and tells me she cant get out to go to work .  She wants me to come back and plow again .   

    I had to tell her to deal with it ,  Its ice , I have a snow plow , not a ice plow . Plus the truck bills out at $ 125 an hour .  And I mention to her thats why everyone on that side of the street with sloped drives parks on the street when it snows.  

    So I mentioned to her to call a cab and walk up the hill to meet the cab .  " I CANT do that"  she was realy upset   . I am like its only snow .  She says " you dont understand  all I have are 4 inch HEELS "  ...................... Sorry , thats NOT my problem .    I was laughing for 10 minutes after I hung up 

    6Reply
  • Samantha Hiscock
    Investor · Barre, VT · Member since 2015 · 129 posts · 96 votes
    11y

    I was showing a SFH that I was living in to some prospective tenants. I had spoken with them on the phone and told them they needed to bring proof of income with them and I could give them an application to fill out. They called about 5 minutes before the appointment to ask if they could bring their kids, as we had a snow day that day. I said no problem; my kids also had a snow day but fully understand this is my job and they needed to sit quietly on the couch playing the Wii.

    A 15 year old minivan pulled up and out climbed 5 of the most ragged children I had ever seen (later on the application I saw that the kids had 4 different last names!). They came in and I showed them around, some of the kids sat on the couch with mine but atleast 2 were tearing through my house with no supervision. The mother kept gushing over how nice the house is and how BIG it is. (We were moving out because I felt that a 3/1 1500sq.ft  house was too small for my family of 5. They were a family of 7.)

    The parents and I went to the kitchen to discuss specifics and so I could ask them my standard questions. I started to ask about income and they told me "No problem at all! I even brought the proof like you wanted!", and then proceeded to hand me their monthly statement from the Economic Services showing me all their welfare benefits! Just as the father handed me the "proof of income" one of their younger kids walked in and the mother started telling me how well behaved her kids were. It was actually my birthday that day, and I had just finished baking and frosting a cake prior to their arrival. Their "well-behaved child" saw this cake on the stove and literally took a FISTFULL right out of the center of my birthday cake. The parents laughed and made zero attempt to correct the child... Application DENIED!

    23Reply
  • George P.
    Property Manager · Livonia, MI · Member since 2011 · 4k+ posts · 1k+ votes
    11y

    so the kid likes cake! why are you punishing the entire family? ;)

    5Reply
  • Samantha Hiscock
    Investor · Barre, VT · Member since 2015 · 129 posts · 96 votes
    11y

    Well, their "terrier mixes", lack of actual income (food stamps DO NOT qualify as income!), and the fact that they requested I lower the rent by $300 so "they wouldn't have to pay anything extra" above and beyond their Section 8 voucher were also on the list of reasons the entire family was punished! :-)

    Although the cake thing really pissed me off, I spent like 2 hours baking it from scratch!

    6Reply
  • Stephen E.
    St Thomas, Ontario · Member since 2013 · 575 posts · 408 votes
    11y

    I had one this week, he seemed a bit odd when he arrived he called my business number not my cell as I had instructed so that I could come to the building's front door. The business number is a Magicjack line and I have their app on my iPhone so it rang. I guessed it was him and went to answer the door. Only later did I hear his message, which in an aggressive tone said I had to call him back immediately. When you lease you have to make decisions based on small amounts of information. I have learned to watch the behavior of prospective tenants very carefully for signs of trouble. This would have been the first strike.

    We went through the unit and I asked all my usual questions including the one about how many other units have you looked at. His answer was fifteen, and I began to smell a rat. He was either pretty indecisive or having problems getting approved. He asked for a form and I filled out my information on it. The first issue was income; he was self employed and claimed income of $34,000 which would barely qualify but went all fuzzy when I asked him to bring his notice of assessment from the Canada Revenue Agency (CRA) to verify it. I asked about credit and he said his credit was good. Then there was the matter of addresses of prior landlords. He claimed to only have lived with his parents and then with a friend, who was he said moving out hence a need for him to move right away. So he was thirty years of age and claimed never to have had a landlord, not even once.

    My spidey senses were aroused by all of this but the kicker came when he called later in the day and said he would not apply because he did not want a hit on his credit report, for which he said he had only just finished "paying some things off." Well, I said, all landlords require credit checks. No, he said with a smile in his voice, only some do. All the ones who know what they are doing do I said. He hung up and went off in search of his next mark.

    Leasing is like this I find. You have to deal with a lot of people who just don't work, and then you find one who does, and the process is over. The signs of trouble that some of them give off are unmistakable.

    2Reply
  • Deborah BurianPro Member
    Rental Property Investor · Oklahoma City, OK · Member since 2013 · 1k+ posts · 412 votes
    11y

    it's my month...someone tell me exactly what I'm supposed to do with an inquiry like this...

    "Hi, I saw your post on Craigslist and j may be interested in the duplex off ***. Please contact with more info. I work two jobs so it may be hard to meet to look at the apt"

    0Reply
  • George P.
    Property Manager · Livonia, MI · Member since 2011 · 4k+ posts · 1k+ votes
    11y

    lol.  with two jobs,  she clearly will be able to afford it.  think about it...  hard to mess it up if she is always working. 

    4Reply
  • Marcia Maynard
    Investor · Vancouver, WA · Member since 2013 · 3k+ posts · 4k+ votes
    11y
    Originally posted by @Deborah Burian:

    it's my month...someone tell me exactly what I'm supposed to do with an inquiry like this...

    "Hi, I saw your post on Craigslist and j may be interested in the duplex off ***. Please contact with more info. I work two jobs so it may be hard to meet to look at the apt"

    I would process it the same as always. I would contact them to tell them about our qualification and application process.  If they don't have the time for our telephone screening, we wouldn't even get to the showing phase. If they weren't able to come to a showing, they wouldn't get the application and therefore wouldn't be applying. Next.

    0Reply
Join the conversationCreate a free account to reply, vote on answers and follow this thread.
Log InJoin for Free