Renting to someone without SSN?

Question

So I had someone today call in response to my "For Rent" sign. She said that she is looking for a place for her, her boyfriend and his two brothers. She said that she is having a hard time finding a place. The three men are Spanish and another landlord told her that he will not rent to Spanish people.

I told her that it is illegal to discriminate race, so as long as they qualify after the application/background check they could be considered. She said that they don't have social security numbers.

I am not having a good feeling about this. I haven't had anyone apply without a SSN and don't think that I can run the background/credit/criminal check without one. Does anyone else have experience with this type of scenario?

Bill S. · Answer

Keep this in mind. No SSN no collections. You cannot get their wages garnished if they leave owing you money. If you don't know how the system works in renting to undocumented individuals, I suggest you don't do so until you have some more education.

Phil G. · Answer

If someone is legally working in the US and doesn't have a SSN, they should have an ITIN (Individual Taxpayer Identification Number), which allows nonresident aliens to file a federal tax return.  Even undocumented residents will sometimes get one.

When I still owned rental property, my bank always required a W-9 from my tenant to deposit their security deposit into an escrow account.

Moshe C. · Answer

I would verify employment (if they work at a restaurant, go there) , identity (passport, DL etc) and ask for a large security deposit. From my experience, the only means to increase your chances that tenants keep the terms of the lease is the security deposit.

Sam Leon · Answer

I would not hesitate to rent to someone without a SSN if everything else checks out.

Are they students, or here on an professional exchange or a work visa?  I have had nothing but positive experience renting to foreign natonals.  They are super responsible, don't make much noise, don't take things for granted and pay on time.

you will need to make sure they are legal, passports should take care of it.  You may not be able to do a credit criminal check if they have been here in the country only recently, but can certainly verify employment, or if students, proof of sufficient funds in the bank.

Your gut may tell you if they are members of Russian mafia, Colombian or Mexican drug cartels or terrorists.  If they claim their favorite hobby is staying home playing flight simulator in the take off mode but not landing mode, run.

Roy N. · Answer

Bill:

An SSN is of little value here in Canada, but we normally collect a passport number and/or student visa numbers.   If the OPs candidates are in the country legally, they would also have a passport and/or visa number, and quite possibly the equivalent of an SSN from their country of origin.

My point above was to refute that an SSN is necessary for collection, it's not.  Sure it may make things easier as the system is designed around residents, but collection from foreign nationals within the country is possible.

Bill S. · Answer

@Roy N. I'm sure you had an SSN or some "number" to pursue your collections with.

Roy N. · Answer

Scott,

Maybe true now, but wasn't in 2008 - 2010.  I never had an "A" number, but was in the county as a professional under NAFTA.

@Bill S.

We've been able to collect from U.S.A. nationals who have skipped rent and returned home, so I'm not sure why you could not collect from a foreign worker within the country itself?

Eric Taylor · Answer

I have a buddy who only rents to the above named.   He gets first month last month and a security deposit.  He claims that they are his most loyal and law abiding rental clients.  Vacancies are horrible.

Scott Pigman · Answer

If they're here legally then they should at least have an "A Number". I don't know if the background check outfits can research those or not but it's worth asking. If they can't provide a SSN or an A number then I'd have to conclude they're here illegally and you'd have to decide how you feel about working with them.

Renting to someone without SSN?

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