Would you rent to me ?

Question

I have a hypothetical question....I was reading a post earlier where previous landlord and employment verification is strongly recommended.

My personal situation is I have never rented and own my own home. I am self employed so who verifies my employment ?  If I were to sell my house tomorrow (i dont have intentions to) would I not be able to rent from you'll even though my personal finances are great ?

Mason Hickman · Answer

@Waylon Zook

I would use credit score as a proxy for ability to pay and make sure to have a security deposit for protection against damage. Additionally, talking to someone and getting a comprehensive history would be helpful. Why are you deciding to no longer own a home, where did you live before you owned, etc.

Waylon Zook · Answer

I guess my thought is we may be missing out on great tenants by refusing to deviate from the guidelines we have set in place for ourselves. If someone has no landlord references we can inquire as to why. Since someone that has at one time owned their own home should arguably be a better tenant ?  If the candidate has been self employed for years and has always paid the bills could be considered more resourceful ?

Mason Hickman · Answer

@Waylon Zook

The way we check for income on self-employed people is to ask for historical tax returns.

Kimberly Carver · Answer

@Waylon Zook

We have self employed tenants- income verification can be done by using tax returns. To answer your hypothetical, if you meet all criteria you could rent from us :)

Michael Plante · Answer

Last 2 years Tax returns and FICO

Waylon Zook · Answer

@Mason Hickman what is your work around for no landlord reference ?  Past property tax bills ?

Earl Borillo · Answer

Perhaps the easiest way for me to verify if you will be a good tenant is to ask for references, so I could talk to them and they can vouch for you. It's a riskier move but to turn you down outright would be unfair to you.

Lynnette E. · Answer

I have a small apartment building where 3 of the 4 apartments are rented to 18 to 23 year olds with one 29 year old boyfriend, most are just leaving mom and dad's house.  None are married but 2 couples are engaged post me renting to them.  They all have jobs, paid taxes in the past, but their jobs change when they can better themselves  as they are just starting out in life.  I took  a chance with them, and they are all great.  Last thing any of them want is to not pay rent and have to move back in with mom and dad.

So, if you can show you have income to pay bills and some past tax forms, you may be able to find someone to rent to you.  It will be harder if you do not have verifiable income or a past landlord to recommend you.

BTW, at that apartment building the one apartment that had a 40+ year old tenant who had worked for the same company for 10+ years--good references---and he is the one I had to ask to leave.  Sometimes the paper trail says 'good tenant' and they are not and other times there may not even be a paper trail to follow and the landlord just has to decide to take a chance or not.

Would you rent to me ?

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