Homeowner · Plain City, OH · Member since 2016 · 20 posts · 2 votes
Dear BP experts,
Sorry to bother you with this, but I do need BP experts’ help in understanding the cons of renting a SF property to an attorney.
We got an attorney who liked our property and would like to rent it for about 12-14 months, as they just sold their house for over 1.5m (about 5 times local average house price). However, my wife seems nervous a little bit to have a lawyer as a tenant, concerning their may abuse their professional advantage, victimizing the landlord and leading us to a possible vulnerable situation, as they may pick up on any tiny issue to make a big deal. Of course, these are assumed possible concerns, based on friends and other people's experiences.
What do you guys suggest? Any experience leasing a property to an attorney?
How successful is said lawyer? Stable income? What's the credit score? How good is the communication? Any red flags in the application or all green? Sounds like they want to play the game, "Watch the Market Cycle" and buy another place if things cool down.
Unless you have tons of assets to protect I wouldn't worry about renting to a lawyer. Treat prospective tenants equally and stick to your screening criteria and you'll be fine.
How successful is said lawyer? Stable income? What's the credit score? How good is the communication? Any red flags in the application or all green? Sounds like they want to play the game, "Watch the Market Cycle" and buy another place if things cool down.
Unless you have tons of assets to protect I wouldn't worry about renting to a lawyer. Treat prospective tenants equally and stick to your screening criteria and you'll be fine.
Thanks Jaron for your quick attention and kind advice. We have yet to have an application to look the details. Yes, be sure to treat all prospective candiates eqully and hope they will be very professional!
@Yan Kang far better to rent to an established lawyer than a law student :) Yes you would be much more vulnerable and unable to be an intimdator in a suit, but you don't really want to do that, right? And the lawyer(s) have an obligation to the bar to be above-board. And judges do NOT like lawyers who abuse their position in small claims, housing etc. On the other hand, they aren't a protected class so feel free to deny. I think you'll be fine though.
@Yan Kang I have a tenant right now who is an attorney and he is the nicest guy and best tenant. The last attorney I rented to before that broke his lease less than six months in. His kids damaged brand new carpet. I would be more concerned about renting to someone who just sold their house. Very often people in that situation are building a new house or looking to buy a new house. Odds are good they will not be long term tenants.
In most parts of the country, you can legally discriminate against a profession. I am not sure you want to get into that. It would be easier to just tell them you are looking for longer term tenants.