Can you require a drug test pre lease agreement?

Question

Max T. · Answer

Are you gonna hold the cup?

Nathan Gesner · Answer

I always need help. Doc says I shouldn't lift anything heavy.

Nathan Gesner · Answer

You can ask for anything you want but good luck getting it. Besides a drug test will show they are clean today but that doesn't mean they'll be clean two weeks from now when they've finally settled into the home and an invite their friends over.

I manage 300 rentals and some of them have been D or C class but I don't worry about druggies. Learn how to properly screen and you'll avoid 99% of them.

Russell Brazil · Answer

When you were a renter, would you have pissed in a cup for a landlord?

Bart H. · Answer

I don't know who would want to take the test who was a decent tenant.

Focus on the things that matter, check credit reports, criminal backgrounds, pay stubs,  follow up with calls to prior landlords etc.

Drug addicts will almost certainly fail in one or more of those issues.  I mean how many drug addicts have good credit?  or a decent job or rental history?

Nathan Gesner · Answer

I definitely have a strong lease agreement but it doesn't cover everything. I basically say criminal activity can result in a termination of the lease. There's no need to spell out every possible scenario.

James Wise · Answer

Legalities aside I have never heard of a landlord doing this in my entire career............Ever. At the end of the day you need to remain market competitive to attract quality tenants. The only people who are willing to go way outside of the normal operating procedure to rent a property are those who have no other option.....Why do you think they have no other options? They are unqualified. So I think you'll be doing a lot of tail chasing while your unit sits empty.

Brian K. · Answer

Meeting potential tenants than screening their background with enough applicants should give a pretty good idea which direction to go. Maybe if you can swing by seeing what their current living conditions are like while in the application process. Good tenants do go bad even with all the screening, so have some funds set aside to tackle the unknown, and you can live to see another tenant.

Know what the landlord tenant laws are in your state. Be a great landlord maintain your property collect the rent, if problems arrive take care of them before they snowball.

Tim G. · Answer

I would take the time to learn and understand your states laws regarding tenants rights. Having anxiety about screening a good tenant is normal, wanting to know invasive details about their life to feel comfortable isn't ok. This means being a professional who is detailed and respects the laws protecting tenant rights.

Can you require a drug test pre lease agreement?

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