Would you lease to a foreigner relocating to the US for work?

Question

A couple from the Caribbean is moving to Washington DC for work and is interested in our rental property. Husband works for a multinational healthcare solutions company and provided an Employment letter (employed since 2014 & $210k salary + bonuses) and copies of their passports and work Visa valid until 2025. That’s all the paperwork agent provided, along with a completed, signed application. They don't have any credit in the US, as they will be moving here for the first time.

How does one go about screening them?

Russell Brazil · Answer

National origin is a protected fair housing class. So that can not play any part in your decision.

Nathan Gesner · Answer

Two things:

1. Whether he's from Caracas or Detroit doesn't play a role. The question is whether you can properly screen them and what level of risk they present. If you can't verify someone's identity, credit worthiness, or other risk factors, then that's a legitimate reason to deny their application.

2. He's unlikely a scammer. You have government-issued documents showing he's here legally. You can verify his employment. So what's the risk? That he doesn't pay and skips the country. So charge him enough that you ensure it doesn't happen. If rent is $2,000 a month, charge him first, last, and a double deposit. That's $8,000 in your pocket and very few people will walk away from that kind of money.

The point of application screening is determining a level of risk. Let's say an obvious junkie applies for your $600 apartment and he has no job, no Landlord reference, a 486 credit score, six kids from five different women and two of those women are currently sitting in his 1984 Oldsmobile smoking hand-rolled cigarettes and offering services to any man that walks by. Big risk and I would never rent to them. But what if I were renting a single-family home on three acres with no neighbors in site and this guy offered to pay me a year in advance and a $20,000 security deposit? I'd be pretty tempted to take it.

Screen to determine risk. Charge to mitigate the risk.

Bjorn Ahlblad · Answer

I think the employer likes the guy. But check that out. Ya; I would approve if they pass my screening criteria.

Would you lease to a foreigner relocating to the US for work?

Would you lease to a foreigner relocating to the US for work?

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