When tenant applicants lie...

Question

I’m currently trying to rent out one of my vacant properties. Usually when an applicant calls I get all their information and ask them the 4 basic questions:

• Is your income 3x the monthly rent?
• Do you have a clean criminal and credit background?
• Have you had any prior evictions?
• Can you get a good references from all your previous landlords?

If they answer all 4 questions correctly we schedule a time to do a showing.

Before the showing, and before they actually fill out an application, I’ll do a quick search of their name on Google, Facebook, and the state’s court docket website. Several times now I’ve had people flat out lie over the phone about a prior eviction or criminal background. I’m not naïve enough to be surprised, but my question is:

Do you cancel the showing and tell them why?

Or

Do you allow them to see the property, fill out an application, run the official background check, then address the issue from there?

Kaycee Miller · Answer

You could also say during your first phone call with a prospective tenant that prior to the showing you will be checking the local database to verify their answers as part of your pre-screening process, if you find out they lied about their eviction history or criminal background you will cancel the showing. That simple sentence will only take you 30 seconds over the phone and will be the easy excuse as to why you cancel the showing if you find out they lied.

Mags S. · Answer

guess the answer depends on how much time you have to waste.  The purpose for doing the pre-qualifying questions before you show them the place,  is to determine if they will meet your needs/requirements.  Then you only show the place to those who are qualified to rent the place.

I don't waste my time showing a place to anyone who would not qualify to rent the place.  Why, if they can't afford it or  wouldn't pass my due diligence.  Googling a person or looking in public databases is not illegal.

I just went thru filing a rental. Be advised, many more will lie so get used to it now.  Although I do look in the publuc databases I do it later in the process.  Great idea to look before showing

Matthew Paul · Answer

Tenants are like politicans , they will tell you you want to hear

Stephen E. · Answer

@Robert Melcher I agree on immediately excluding liars. I just had a group of three tenants apply, the third one listed an employer and I duly called the contact listed. The tenant must not have expected me to do this as the 'employer' said that the tenant's last day was February 13th! Needless to say, rejection followed.

Robert Melcher · Answer

Lying on the application is immediate grounds for removal from consideration. If they haven't applied and something comes up on a web search, I will ask for an explanation before I go any further. Web searches have a lot of opportunity for inaccuracy.

Colleen F. · Answer

This is what I found online about you , is it correct? yes, ok I am going to cancel the showing. If they say no it's not correct I would still show it. My husband always has to swear he isn't  50 other guys with the same name so not everything you find on the internet is right. Also around here they publish the police log with names which is  the charge not the conviction.

Kevin Harrison · Answer

When you speak to them on the phone don't just ask the questions, preface it with the fact that you are going to verify these things and if they are not true then you will not rent to them and they would be wasting their time and yours. something like "Thank you for your interest but before we go any further I need to ask you a couple of questions. These will all be verified when you submit your application, but if an effort to save your time and mine I would like to know if you (your questions here)?" This way they know they you are going to double check their answers and that you will still not rent to them even if they lied.

Many people believe that once they get there and you have taken the time to show them the unit, you will accept them even if they don't really meet your criteria. Make it clear up front that you will not be changing your mind. Some will still lie but hopefully this will cut down on the number of people that do.

Gail K. · Answer

How far are your showings from where you reside?

If close,  continue with the showings, repeat your screening process emphasizing you do check for eviction and criminal background.   If these folks are dumb enough to take an application and fork over the money required to run this, let them.

If the showings require you to drive a distance from your own residence, schedule several at the same time.   That way you'll not be wasting your time showing the unit only to folks who you are certain won't be meeting your criteria anyway due to lying about evictions/criminal history/income, etc..

Remember the "fear" of claim of discrimination.  If you set your criteria and follow it with every applicant, there is no basis for any claim of such.

Gail

Ian Walsh · Answer

We usually just set up mass showings and then take applications after people have seen the property. Those questions aren't asked on the app until they have seen the place.

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