Pricing risk on tenants with evictions/low credit

[Maria S.]

I've seen several posts mentioning that eviction moratoriums put a wrench into landlords' risk management strategies.

I am in a state where it takes roughly 1 month from filing for an eviction to the bailiffs' removing the tenants from the property.

How would you price the risk of accepting a tenant with eviction or a low credit in that situation? Let's say the perfect tenant pays 450 in rent + 450 refundable deposit, an eviction costs about 900 in lawyer costs/fees and you lose about 2 months of rent (rent due on the 1st, file on the 15th and they are out by the 15th next month). What would you expect a tenant with eviction to bring to the table in order to consider them?

[Jim K.]

@Maria S.

Once you've been through a few as a landlord, you just dislike tenants with evictions on their records -- it's not academic at all. You dislike them and you don't want to see them do well, and it's worth passing on them and whatever they might bring to the table just to know that they got no shelter or safe harbor from you. I don't care if they get down on their knees and pledge me their firstborn child's soul. I'm more willing to listen to and believe barking Huskies on YouTube.

At least in this market.