A Question For You Landlords Out There

[James Hiddle]

Let's say a possible tenant found your home or apartment for rent and you did a background check on them and it comes back squeeky clean but you find out that they have legal problems such as divorce or they did an unlawful act and they are in litigation because of it. Would this be a deterrent for you not to sign a lease with them? Can you legally decline them for fear of possible squatting?

The reason is that I just saw an episode of Judge Judy where a tenant signed a lease with a landlord,moved into the property and did not pay for 5 months rent because the tenant was using the rent money to pay off legal fees due to his divorce in which case the tenant was squatting.

[Mark N.A]

Luckily there is no law pertaining to length of lease.

When I'm in doubt with a new tenant I go for the month-to-month lease.

Except for college students where I get the good ol' Parental Guarantee!