Turning down good perspective tenants

[Christine Swaidan]

I did a showing today for a 3+2 SFR that will be vacant at the end of the month. I prescreened perspective tenants and after meeting with all I feel I won't have to go any further than these folks to find a good fit. It's a good house in a good location and of course everyone is anxious to be the chosen family. I will be checking references tomorrow and then on to checking credit. I will be disappointing some of these families with my choice. How much am I obligated to tell them about why they were turned down? Do I just say I'm sorry but we have found someone else and refuse to say why a decision was made? ( I plan on only doing a credit check on my first choice, not all of them.)