Help me pick a tenant

[Jill F.]

I have 8 units 1 mile out from the university student center and on the edge of what might be described as "the hood." These units rent for 450 + gas & electric and pet fees.

The former landlord mostly rented to students. and would just leave units vacant until he could get one. Now it's kind of "my first place" apartments with students just out of dorms or young people with first jobs except for one unit with an old single lady.

I have two applications for the vacant unit

A grandma and her husband of many years that works at the grocery store next door for 15 years and also with hers and partner's social security make about 3x rent. She's lived at her current place 4 years and previous 5 years. Her 30ish daughter who is also a longtime employee of grocery filled out online app for her. She has no car so she really likes the location right next to work. She told me she had an eviction but I checked and no evictions have been filed in the county court on her or her partner. I'm calling the landlord tomorrow but it's a small local property management company and the "eviction" was five years ago so I don't know if they will even remember her.

and

a my first place recent 2-year graduate working two jobs that makes 2.5x rent. Very nice young lady. location is right in between both her jobs. Currently living at home.

I liked them both. Neither have pets or criminal records.

Grandma saw the apartment first and got in application about an hour ahead of my first place girl.

Would you care more about the reported eviction that wasn't or the lack of rental history? or something else? Who would bigger pockets pick? or what additional info would you ask for? I'll check refs next week.

[Kevin S.]

@Jill F. actually 60 minutes could be (and possibly should be) the determining factor. All other things being equal, if you went with the 2nd applicant and the 1st applicant filed a Fair Housing Act discrimination suit against you, what would be your defense for not having picked the 2nd applicant? If both of them meet your criteria you're safest off choosing the first one to apply, and your reason for denying the 2nd application is that there was a qualified applicant that was "in-line" before them. I understand you're just checking to see what other criteria people may be using, but it's a risk to change your criteria in the middle of the process AND you've posted it on BP which makes it public knowledge now. All that being said I'd go with applicant #1. Good luck!