Applicants with varying credit scores

[Yannie Gold]

I require my tenants to have a minimum credit score of 680. A group of four are applying together for my 4 bdrm property. They are an engaged couple, the guy’s mother, and the woman’s brother. I was told that out of the four adults, two have credit scores above 700, one has 650, another has 600. Their combined income does exceed 3x the rent. But none qualifies with just one person’s income. I haven’t run the credit checks yet because I normally would simply reject when I was informed the required credit scores weren’t met.

Assuming what they told me about their credit scores is true, would you rent to them? I‘m also concerned that the boyfriend and girlfriend may break up and one moves out. My contract does specify that everyone on the lease is responsible for paying the entire rent. But it still created trouble in the past when some tenants wanted to leave earlier due to a deteriorating relationship.  

[Nathan Gesner]

Quote from @Yannie Gold:

I require my tenants to have a minimum credit score of 680. 

Why do you have a standard if you don't intend to adhere to it?

Here's a common scenario. Two people apply to rent your apartment. One of them has a great application, and the other has a poor application. You assume the individual with a good application will keep the other straight and choose to rent to them. The good applicant eventually gets tired of carrying the water for the other, leaves, and you are stuck with a bad tenant.