Should I accept this applicanant as tenant?

[Taylor Robertson]

I have a recent applicant who is relocating to my local area for work. She does pass the qualifications for the most part but I see a few red flags. For one, she told me she doesn't have past landlords to use a references because she previously owned a house and since she's moving here, she will have to break the lease with her current landlord. Furthermore, she said she will be working for a new company here, so I can't necessarily verify her income with that job due to her not starting until the end of May. Other than that she appears to be a promising applicant (good income, background check etc). She's driving 5hrs one way to see the place tomorrow, so it seems like she's serious. This is my first property so I don't have the tenant experience yet to say whether to pass or not. She's a little older and will live by herself, so I'd like to hope she will make a good long term tenant. Is there anything I can to best protect myself and ensure the accuracy of her claims.

[Richard F.]

Aloha,

Red flags are flying for a reason. 1) You state "does pass the qualifications for the most part". Your basic screening criteria should be simple go/no go decisions. 2) Breaking the lease with current LL. So, pretty likely she will do the same to you at some point. 2) New job. Did she provide a hiring letter showing what her salary will be? How long is the probationary period for the new company...maybe she won't "fit". Does she have substantial, verifiable savings to live on if things don't go as planned? 3) Driving 5 hours may mean she is serious, or just desperate to "get out of Dodge". Also, it is not very likely yours is actually the only property she will be looking at if she is making the drive. 4) "Hoping" she will make a good tenant is not a strategy...