2 Potential tenants. 1 with good credit the other with below 600

[Tyler Speelman]

I have several scheduled viewings for a vacancy. 2 potential tenants, a couple that will be living together has submitted application without yet seeing the available unit. One of the potential tenants meets all qualification standards, the other does not due to credit score below 600.

Would you take the average of their credit scores? Also, would you try to show this couple the unit earlier than previously scheduled showing and get a lease agreement signed so I do not waste time showing available unit to others?

[Jonathan Taylor Smith]

@Tyler Speelman - I do not rent to person's I've not yet met in person, and I handle that initial meeting at the showing. And even if the person was moving from out of state and could not come to a showing, I'd still need to facetime or skype a showing and thus virtual-meeting in advance.

As for credit score, I well know that this is not always an accurate indicator of a potential good/bad tenant, as I myself once had a below 600 credit score when I was a tenant (caused by a number of factors none of which having any real relation to my credit or tenant worthiness) - as I've always been employed, never paid rent late once in my life and have always gotten 100% of my security deposits returned from numerous apartments before I became a landlord myself.

More than some arbitrary score, I care far more about how long the person has been on their job as long employment history shows some ability to follow rules and live up to expectations. How long did they live in their prior home? And I care WHY the score is low, such as did the person allow a $50 phone or cable bill destroy their credit, or is it larger medical and student loans? I won't fault a person for trying to educate themselves or stay alive, but I will for having a phone or cable TV they didn't need anyway and saying "screw it" and letting it kill their score - as they will do the same with me. So if they have one or more small collections, I may not rent to them if their score is 700.