Can FL landlord ask for potential's past W2?

[Huiping S.]

We have an applicant who has no issue on background and he is a law school student and is working also. His 90% debit is student loan. The amount is huge! He stated some income but self-employed, court ordered money, and some money from law school (I guess that is the student loan be distributed through school). Our biggest concern now is his income although he said he likes to give us his pay stabs. As self-employed contract, the payment is not stable. Can we ask past years W2s based on FL law? How often a law person will play the law games with landlord? Thanks experienced landlord to give a help. Huiping

[John Thedford]

Certainly! You can ask for proof of income including last year. There is no law prohibiting this. As to your question regarding a "law person" playing with the landlord: I WILL NOT rent to attorneys. They are not a protected class. I know one attorney who advises NEVER rent to attorneys. He is a landlord too:)

You applicant may not yet have passed the bar, but do look at his demeanor, etc. If he seems pushy, or possibly like a "know it all" pre-attorney---I would pass. My attorney friend that will NOT rent to other attorneys and recommends against doing so states--and this is from his email to me:

"I would personally NEVER rent to an attorney. I have seen way too many problems. They are just bad news. Everything will be turned around on you."

I redacted his name to protect the guilty:)