Renting to Megan's Law offender?

Question

This must have been discussed before, but I couldn't find anything when searching.

In general:
Do any of you rent to Megan's Law offenders? Under what circumstances?

Specifically:
I have a 9-unit low-income (<$500/mo) building, and a ML offender applied recently. We told him no, but it left me thinking whether I should have been open to it, and what to do next time.

Rob K. · Answer

Sex offenders are the bottom rung of society. Even in prison, they are looked down upon and are the first ones to be beaten or killed. I would never rent to one of these creeps.

Even if you thought this guy would be a good tenant, your other eight tenants might move out when they find out that a pedophile lives in their building.

Jerred Morris · Answer

Tenants on probation are tough as well.  If they violate it and put back in jail then you are left holding the bag.

Joel Owens · Answer

The RISK outweighs the potential rent.Every time you have a borderline tenant my experience is it rarely works out.

Eric Blackford · Answer

This. No way no how.

Steve Babiak · Answer

In multi-family is where you have greatest liability - due to others being in same building, and especially if there is a common entrance.   Any common area (parking area or hallways) is an opportunity for a chance encounter.  Almost certain the other tenants will consider moving when they discover this.  I have had a couple of lookers for my vacancy, that are in a multi where a sex offender is registered to be living.

Kyle J. · Answer

I've chosen not to rent to criminals in general, especially serious offenders.

That being said, Rob K brings up a very good point.  If you rent to one in a multi-family property, you risk losing all of your other tenants and/or making it harder to attract new tenants in the future.  Hardly seems worth the risk.

Renting to Megan's Law offender?

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