Potential tenant is a smoker

[Michael Nahm]

Once more, seeking wisdom on BP.

I have a potential tenant who has great credit and all looks well, however, he is a smoker.

I realize that I can’t control everything, and to each his own, and he didn’t have to be honest about smoking.

I’d like to approve him, though would like a higher deposit to mitigate potential damage.

Any advice would be appreciated (how much, if there’s anything else I need to account for).

[Bruce Woodruff]

A solid NO. If you're even considering this, you must have never cleaned up a rental after a smoker has lived there. You will need new flooring, paint, carpets, drapes, etc...and a complete new paint job with multiple coats of primer and high quality (read expensive) paint. And running an ozone machine for days. And you may still have slight odors.

So why would you even consider it? There are hundreds of really good tenants out there who don't smoke.......