Possible Tenant tells you they have a felony conviction

[Michael Palmer]

Yesterday for the first time I had a potential tenant tell me the she has a felony on her record when I sent her my application.  I Googled her name and found out she was convicted in 2015.  My unit is in Buffalo, NY.  Is it OK that I tell her before she is submits the application that we do not accept applicants who were convicted as a felon? If yes, is that something I should do over a phone call, email or text?  Or should I wait until she fills out an application? If yes, what's the legal why to tell her.

[Dennis M.]

I’m not sure I’d have any tenants at all if I excluded anyone with a criminal background . If they called and told me they had a record I’d just say “ actually so do I ..I took a tenants life who didn’t pay me rent once “