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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  • Robert T.
    Member since 2021 · 26 posts · 31 votes
    4y

    Had another one the other day over the phone 

    Woman: Yeah is your place still for rent?

    Me: Yes, would you like to fill out an application?

    Woman: Well....ummm...I was just wonderin' if we could come and look at it first?

    Me: Well I've had a ton of interest in the house and I have several applications submitted. I'm going to be making a decision in the next few days. I'm asking so you would have a better chance of not missing out on the house because I'm not going to wait around.

    Woman: Uhhh...ok... how do I get one?

    Me: I mentioned in the ad to contact me and I will provide one through email.

    Woman: Is there a charge?

    Me: No, but I will need one for anyone 18 and older who would be living in the house. 

    Woman: Well there's me, my boyfriend, my sister and her fiance, and my dad.

    Me: (Thinking...here we go...) Ok, well if you share your email address with me I will send it over and if you can have each person fill one out as well that would be helpful.

    Woman: Ok...but can we come see the house tomorrow?

    Me: I'm not sure what my schedule is for tomorrow just yet.

    Woman: Ok, and what was the price again? 

    Me: (Freaking people don't read) it's $1,600 as mentioned in the ad. I have all of the details about the house and rental terms and requirements in the ad. 

    Woman: Ok, yeah I didn't read it I just saw it and thought I'd ask. So do you think tomorrow afternoon will work?

    Me: I mentioned I'm unsure of my schedule tomorrow but I do look forward to receiving your applications. I do have to run for the time being, thanks for your interest.

    3Reply
  • Matthew Paul
    Severna Park, MD · Member since 2013 · 7k+ posts · 7k+ votes
    4y

    Guy shows up , he has his gold chains , tats , and his girl friend was lets say scantly clothed . They look at the house and tell me an application and credit check are not necessary , he will pay in cash . Up front for the year .  And he whips out a boatload of cash . ..................................   Sorry there  guy , but the owner wont do that .      The guy was pissed  first because it wouldnt happen and second he thought I was the owner .       I tell everyone that       I Represent the owner 

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

    We have a 2/2 condo for rent. The listing says "Please read and meet these requirements before contacting". The condo association itself requires the tenant's income be 3 times the monthly rent. Rent is $1650, so the monthly income requirement is $4950; let's just say $5K.

    Some recent exchanges:

    Me - Do you meet all the requirements?
    Tenant - Well, I don't make $5000 a month, but all the rest is ok. 
    Me - <Thinking, if you can't pay the rent, but everything else is OK, you're in!>
    I say $5000 is a requirement.

    Me - Do you meet all the requirements?
    Tenant: Yes, my friend and I do, together
    Me - Do you both have verifiable rental histories? (a requirement)
    Tenant: No, I'm 23 and have always lived at home. 
    Me - What about your friend?
    Tenant: Well, maybe in Trinidad, where she's from.

    Me - Do you meet all the requirements?
    Tenant - Yes
    Me - What is your monthly income?
    Tenant - I'm not sure
    Me - That's a requirement

    2Reply
  • Maria S.
    Member since 2018 · 45 posts · 48 votes
    3y

    From ISO post in a local FB group: 

    ISO 2bed 1bath (or more) pet friendly (pitbull

    😅

    hes very friendly though and will be neutered soon)

    That's going to be an interesting search.

    2Reply
  • Dawn P.
    Rental Property Investor · Sumter, SC · Member since 2015 · 334 posts · 531 votes
    3y

    Had an open house for one of my rentals over the weekend, tons of interest. 

    Applicant: my credit is 340 right now but I'm really working on it...

    Me: no

    Applicant 2: we raise pit bulls and...

    Me: no

    Applicant 3: I know I have three evictions but let me explain...

    Me: no

    Also had an "entertainer" apply with no proof of income, two evictions, something like 12 accounts in collection and several felonies to her name. 

    Big fat NO.

    I did have several lovely people apply who are well qualified and would be a good fit, so they weren't all losers. But, wow.

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

    And a request today to see the condo we have for rent:

    Tenant: I would like to see this condo

    Me: Do you meet the requirements in the listing?

    Tenant: Thank you for bringing it to my attention. I'm not comfortable giving anyone a deposit that big. I've gotten all deposits back. Just can't trust people.

    Me: I know exactly what you mean (what I felt like saying was, try applying for a mortgage with that attitude)

    Tenant: I don't want to be in people's court begging for what's mine lol

    Me: Good luck with your search

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

    And today's winner:

    When she messages me from the listing, I ask if she meets the requirements in the listing. They all say yes, and she does, too.

    I call her.

    Me: Hi Victoria, I just wanted to ask some questions about the requirements for the condo.
    Her: I told you 3 times I meet them!! (yes, in a very angry voice, and I only asked once).
    Me: Well, everyone tells me that, so I need to ask a few questions.
    Her: Huge, annoyed sigh...."I'm trying to find a new place, I'm sick of living above a drug addict, and they won't do anything about it here!" (like that's my fault)
    Me: You sound a little stressed, should we do this another time?
    Her: No, I need a place.
    Me: Ok, I'll make this quick. What is your monthly income?
    Her: DO YOU HAVE A PLACE FOR RENT OR NOT!?
    Me: YES, OR I WOULDN'T BE CALLING YOU!
    Her: Hangs up

    Yup, good luck in your search.

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

    Filed under "Just when I thought I'd heard it all".

    I wanted to approve a young couple with a 2 year old for our rental condo. Very friendly, polite, showed up on time to see it, passed the initial phone pre-qual. After getting their applications, the first red flag was the current landlord named on the application. That woman doesn't own the property, it's owned by the applicant man's parents, which I found on the tax records. The young woman applicant, very nice, very chatty, told me about it after I called to see who the "landlord" woman was, since she wasn't the owner. They are subletting from her - right.

    That woman is also the supervisor of a landscaping company that employs the young man. Pay stubs are legitimate, she says she's sublet the house to them for about 5 years now. The young woman applicant works in Melbourne at a treatment center, makes decent money but also has documented trust fund income. 

    Much bigger red flag: she told me her boyfriend has a DUI from a few years ago. I check the county court web site, and he also has a drug conviction from a traffic stop last year - marijuana paraphernalia, resisting arrest without violence. There was also an initial charge of possessing fentanyl (a felony) but no conviction. She admitted the irony of all this, as she works at a treatment center. I'm wondering if that's how they met, but I can't ask. She said he completed an AA program (because being a heavy drinker at the time impaired his judgment re: the drugs) as well as ae drug treatment program and has been sober since then and can send me his certificate and sponsor's contact info.

    My application asks if a person has ever been convicted of a felony - the truthful answer from him was actually "no". I will revise my app to ask if there are any convictions for anything other than a DUI - of which he had 2. And had spent 36 days in jail, since his family refused to bail him out.

    I can't believe she actually said to me, "I didn't think that would show up, since the felony wasn't a conviction". I rejected them.

    1Reply
  • Mike Laurenzi
    Pensacola, FL · Member since 2020 · 7 posts · 4 votes
    3y
    So a person who had a minor traffic stop and marijuana drug conviction, but not an actual felony and went through treatment, answered your application correctly and you refused them? Way to give a young couple a chance. This is why people hate landlords.
    1Reply
  • Aly W.
    Investor · Middletown, NJ · Member since 2008 · 2k+ posts · 1k+ votes
    3y
    Quote from @Mike Laurenzi:
    So a person who had a minor traffic stop and marijuana drug conviction, but not an actual felony and went through treatment, answered your application correctly and you refused them? Way to give a young couple a chance. This is why people hate landlords.

    You're right - I should have let them spend $100 each to be rejected by the condo association. And the fact that they did not disclose the jail term when initially asked about a criminal background (you know, like jail time), shouldn't count. But if you have a vacancy in FL, I'll be happy to send them your way.

    6Reply
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