Tenant Screening without SSN

[Rick Santasiere]

Good evening BP Community!  I am a property manager in CT, and have been doing so for 5+ years, and this is the first time where I have experienced the screening of a potential tenant who does not have a SSN.  It appears as though he is in a student visa status. I definitely don't want to violate any fair housing laws, but have never had this experience before, and I want to be fair, and make sure my owner is also covered from a liability perspective as well. I so appreciate any input or feedback any other property managers, landlords, REB's may have on the matter.  Happy Holidays!

[Marcia Maynard]

If not a U.S. citizen, every person who enters the U.S. will have either an immigrant or non-immigrant status.

See: http://internationaloffice.berkeley.edu/nonimmigra...

Citizens and non-citizens who want to work in the U.S. will have a SSN or an ITIN.

See: https://www.ssa.gov/pubs/EN-05-10096.pdf

A student who comes to the U.S. to study with a student visa, falls into the category of non-immigrant status and will be restricted to study only, not work. Since they are not working in the U.S. they will not need to have either a SSN or an ITIN (Individual Taxpayer Identification Number).

"Although many companies, such as banks and credit companies, may ask for your Social Security number, you generally aren’t required to provide one if you don’t have one." - SSA

Renting to students is a niche that many landlords find profitable. International students is a subset of that niche. You certainly can verify ID, school program information, legal entry documentation and source of income. Of primary concern to you will be whether the tenant can fulfill the duties of tenancy, which includes paying their housing costs. Also, you can still run their name through U.S. court records to check their criminal/legal history in U.S.

Many international students make excellent tenants! They have great incentive to follow the laws in the U.S. and succeed in their responsibilities while here. I would give this applicant serious consideration. Don't worry about them not having a SSN; it's not absolutely necessary.