Husband and Wife both fill out rental app???

Question

Renting an apartment building and wondering if both wife and husband should fill out an application? Is it standard to have all people 18+ in the household fill one out?

In this particular situation the wife filled out an application and her credit score was pretty bad (531) and supposedly he is over 600; how much do you take a situation like that into account? They both have good income.

How invasive can I get with questions; thinking of asking for two month's bank statements to prove income?

Curt Smith · Answer

@Ian W.    Someone Here said they don't use the bank account only verified income. I disagree I require a bank account with the full move in amount balance to day not after my next paycheck. A require them to send me a screenshot showing their name and the balance. If you know how debt collectors work having a bank account with a good balance is like a free credit check. And most importantly it shows financial prudence and planning and the art spenders they can actually save.   Someone with a good bank account balance like 3 times rent you're more likely to get the rent than someone who has almost no balance with good income.

Adam Martin · Answer

You need to have written standards you intend to use as a guide and tell them what they are up front.  If they choose to fill out an application which many do knowing they don't meet your qualifications thats on them.  I verify everyone over 18 including kids.  I also verify that they are paying rent by getting a screenshot of whatever platform they use.  You can never be too careful especially now.  Remember it is better to have a vacant apartment while you are finding the right tenant than to have an occupied one by the wrong tenant who isn't paying.

Francis Rusnak · Answer

To what extent do you ask tenants to fill out applications for all 18+year olds? If it's $35-50 and they have 4 people I feel bad asking all of them to fill it out even if there's a good chance we won't accept them based off the first person's application.

-If one tenant is fully qualified, do you still ask the others to fill out?-What if one isn't qualified, will you then accept them if a second tenant is fully qualified and they are both going on the lease?

Bjorn Ahlblad · Answer

@Ian W. Screening thoroughly and sticking to your standards is your best defense especially today. Make sure you verify income, employment and past LLs, nothing wrong with getting invasive. Bad tenants and evictions are never fun and you will always lose lots of money. Screen everyone over 18 and have them on the lease. Get your full move in fee or you do not hand over the keys. All the best!

S Harper · Answer

I agree with everyone who said Everyone Over 18. One applicant looked fantastic. Their spouse, however - evidently they had been putting all of the utilities (and other accounts)in just her name. She had approx 10 accounts in collections (including utilities) with zero attempt at payment.

Screen everyone equally and then make your informed decision. If you are uncomfortable with the screening costs I know Apartments.com only charges $25 per person, and the tenant can use it for 30 days and to apply to 6 properties.

Colleen F. · Answer

@Brandon Abrego  google US fair housing act then look at your local landlord tenant laws to see if they are more restrictive. It is the laws on discrimination in housing that go from your ads,  to what you can say to prospective tenants, to how you select tenants, to how you deal with them post placement.  I would reccommend you don't show your place again until you read them.

On screening I usually don't run credit until the paper application is acceptable. If I can look at it and say you don't have enough income, you have too many cars or pets I won't even charge the application fee.  All of those over 18 because you need background even if they are young, I don't care about the credit score of a 19 year old who isn't the primary renter. I do care about criminal record on those.

Taylor L. · Answer

To piggyback on that, make sure you're aware of Fair Housing laws and your standards comply with them. Particularly as it pertains to familial status.

Zachary Ray · Answer

Yes everyone over 18 that will be on the lease needs to fill out an application and have a screening performed. Who knows what skeletons are in the wife's background. lol

Lynnette E. · Answer

I also feel badly when I ask everyone for the credit report and background check at a cost of $40 each.  BUT sometimes what I get is a total surprise.  One person may be sparkling clean and the spouse awful!  Or sometimes you find an elderly person who has many others using his credit and he has no income left.

Justin V. · Answer

@Ian W.

Yes. Credit app everyone 18 plus.

Myrental.com is the one I use.

You can go as deep as allowed by local laws allow. I’ve gotten multiple months worth of statements before if needed, but I’m out of minnesota.

Husband and Wife both fill out rental app???

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