Asking how long prospects hope to rent?

[Nick Brubaker]

Hi everyone,

Quick question:  Is it ok to ask in a rental application how long a prospective tenant expects/plans/hopes to live/rent at the property?  While no one can predict the future, their reply would still offer some value in getting a sense of how desirable they would be as tenants from a purely business (non-discriminatory) perspective.  All else being equal, the applicant that said she would hope to stay indefinitely (if the landlord allows through lease renewals) would be favorable to the applicant who plans to move after graduation or something.  

[Shannon Sadik]

@Nick Brubaker, I downloaded an application straight from my city's housing authority and it specifically asks how long the tenant expects to live there, so I think (at least in NY) it must be a legally allowed question. I honestly don't even see what the legal ramification would be? It does not fit under the discrimination category, but is simply gathering information. 

I like the question, though I think most people have no idea and just put down anything, so I wouldn't worry about it too much. Older people tend to stay longer than young people, but I've known tenants who lived in previous places for 5-7 years as the norm, however when filling out my application, they just say 1-2 years. Maybe they don't want to commit?