Accept or deny?

[Marc Dufour]

I am planning to rent a property in southern california. Here is the situation

1 - I only received 1 application after 6 open houses and dropping the price to market value

2 - the application is an artist and would come with his wife and 2 kinds.

3 - He is willing to pay 1 year lease upfront.

4 - He got convicted 3 times for drugs 10 years ago.

5 - Got commissioned now by a big city, but no other regular income employer.

Would you recommend I accept as he would pay the 1 year lease upfront? I could increase the deposit to 2 months? Other suggestions?

[Bill S.]

So what is the risk of having a tenant deal drugs from your property? Federal confiscation for starters. Damage from a "no-knock" raid. Being shot up when the rivals try and move on some more turf. Death in the unit from OD. Damage from drugged up people living in your unit. Becoming a meth lab and getting it listed on the state list of meth labs when it's busted by the local popo. The list is really endless and none of them are good. Never heard someone say oh my drug dealing tenant had the unit professionally painted and bought all new appliances that they will leave behind when they move out.