All Forum Posts by: Debbie S.

I found an interesting article on the web at:
[LINK REMOVED] It basically says that landlords do not have to rent to jerks and that "as long as your reason for not leasing to a person has nothing to do with their race, color, religion, national origin, sex, familial status or handicap, you don't have to. "
It is an interesting read.

I also thought, just like Bienes Raices, that we had to give a rental app. to anyone who asked for one and that the first person who filled one out was considered first. So, I was a little surprised to read that most say that I can refuse to give an application to someone.
What do you tell the person when they ask why they can't have an application? Like, for example, with Bob. Do you say "Due to the past problems we have had, you cannot rent the apartment nor fill out an application" ?

I have read quite a few posts and am developing my criteria.

The 18 reasons were found here: http://www.american-apartment-owners-association.org/blog/2008/10/27/18-reasons-to-reject-a-tenant-application/

Thank you for your answers!

Originally posted by Bienes Raices
I was always under the impression that to be safe you must allow anyone to apply who wants to (and who is willing to pay the fee and provide a driver's license for ID, of course), however everyone here seems to disagree with me so perhaps I was wrong about that. I don't want to give out bad information on here.

He might be a protected class because he is a foreigner and has difficulty with the language and culture. How is disrespecting me and my property a valid reason? I looked at "18 reasons to reject a tenant application" and didn't see that as one of the options.
I can't just say "No." I forgot to mention that he says he wants to fill out an application and will do so when I come out to the property. What is the exact reason I am to give him for denying him the right to fill out an application?

I have an apartment for rent. There is someone (let’s call him Bob) who lives in the apartment building next door and he wants to rent my apartment. He has not yet filled out a rental application but he did call me on the phone and said he wants to rent the apartment.

I do not want to rent to Bob and wanted to ask this list if I have a valid reason for rejecting Bob and if I do, what reason do I give Bob?

Here is some background information about Bob.

We have had complaints from our tenants regarding Bob. One of our tenants said that Bob parks his car on our property and uses our water to wash his car. We have told Bob to stop doing this.

He has, in the past, parked his car on our property, taking up one of our tenant’s spots. We tell him to park on his own side and not on our side.

I saw his kid and wife in our backyard. I told her she had to leave and couldn’t be on our property.

His kid has been seen playing in our back yard and in our driveway. Once again, he is told to stay on his side of the property.

I had to call the management company, of the apartment next door, and register a complaint, saying that Bob was on our property, filling up a bucket of water and using our water. The management company said they would speak to him about this.

One of our tenants said not to rent to him and has complained to us about his kid screaming and making noise.

I know that I cannot reject him because he has a kid, but I did see that one of the reasons to reject an application is an unsatisfactory reference from landlords, employers and/or personal references.

So, I am wondering if the complaints I have mentioned above would be considered a valid reason for rejecting his application. Admittedly, the complaints come from me or my tenants, so I wonder if that would be considered bias. The relationship that I have with the landlord next door is not exactly amicable (because we complain so much about his tenants!) and I wonder how up front he will be if I were to ask for a reference.

There is a chance, and I don’t know this for sure, but I think Bob has not given notice to his landlord (I think he is waiting for me to give him an application and then when I tell him he is accepted, he will give notice, but this is pure speculation on my part). But if this is the case, (and I think it is) I wonder if I have the right to refuse to rent to him because he isn’t really able to move right in or am I required to hold the apartment vacant just because Bob filled out an application first?

Please offer advice on how to handle this sticky situation. Do I give him a rental application to fill out?