Potential tenant with eviction

[Rousner E.]

Got a potential tenant who told me at the open house that she had been evicted from her last apartment because she refused to pay the rent due to it having black mold and the property owner refusing to fix it. She showed me pictures and videos of the black mold. I called the landlord and she confirmed that there was black mold but that her lease stated that no matter what the rent is due. The potential tenant was legally evicted by a judge. I told them I would require a higher security deposit from them which she agreed too. Should I be considering this applicant and/or is there anything else I should do before I accept them?

[Nick C.]

My guess is she will find something wrong with your unit, and it sounds like her solution will be to not pay you rent. The landlord should have remedied the mold situation, if there was one, but rent must be paid every month, not when a tenant feels the property is up to the tenant's standards.