Applicants with undisclosed significant other

[Rick Bassett]

Maybe it's the way that the housing authority in our area works or our local culture but it seems that the vast majority of the applicants that we get who are on public assistance almost always fail to disclose that their spouse or significant other will be living with them and we generally find out that they aren't being truthful during the screening process.

Our application process is straight forward; all adults (18 or over) who will be living at the property must fill out an application and be on the lease. This helps us to hold everyone responsible later on if something goes wrong and it allows us to expedite the eviction process if need be.

This happens so much that it adds a lot of time and due diligence to our screening process.

Is this something that many other landlords are encountering as well? If so, I'd be interested if hearing creative suggestions for dealing with it.

Rick

[Marrio Barnes]

Here is a tip.  Add one more page to your inital application. On the that page request that the applicant gives you three or four people to contact in case of emergency and make sure they fill out ALL three contact information slots. 

Most times the applicant will give the name of the significant other that will be living them.  With that information you can do quick public information searches to see what type of unauthorized roommate they might have. It's not 100% but it helps.

Good luck.