What reason is ok to use to refuse tenant in renting? (Is misdemeanor a good reason?)

[Mary Jay]

Hi guys,

What reason is ok to use to refuse tenant in renting? (Is misdemeanor a good reason?)

State Florida...

[Nathan Gesner]

Quote from @Mary Jay:

I disagree with blanket rejections. 

The point of screening an applicant is to determine the level of risk to your property, your income, and others. A felony conviction and ten years in prison sounds pretty bad, but were they guilty of embezzling money from their employer, or were they guilty of raping the next-door neighbor? Those present two very different levels of risk.

You should also consider how long ago the offense occurred and what the individual has done since then. If they spent ten years in prison for drug dealing, but have been out for ten years, have been sober, stayed employed, and paid their bills, there's really no risk associated with their criminal past.