Unqualified people STILL apply!! Why?!??

Question

Hey everyone,

Yesterday I finally signed a lease for a unit I had vacant for a few months. Over those few months I had 5 applicants who paid the application fee, knowing the minimum qualifications to rent the property, and were denied for not meeting the minimum qualifications! Why do people still apply and pay money knowing that they don’t meet the requirements?!?

I even created a questionnaire that filters people out if they don’t meet the requirements before they can even schedule an appointment.  People have literally lied on the questionnaire just to schedule an appointment, fill out an application, pay the fee, and get denied.  I’ve gotten a lot of sob stories after the denial so I’m assuming they go into the whole process assuming they can sweet talk me into approving them.  So much so that they are willing to risk $40 per applicant thinking I’ll fold.  I just think it’s crazy that people think like this.

Who else experiences this?  If people do it, I’m assuming it works sometimes and the landlord caves.  Stay strong on those qualifications everyone!

Account Closed · Answer

When you read the disaster stories here, inevitably it's a landlord who made an exception or didn't screen properly in the first place.  These tenants are playing a numbers game, looking for those landlords.

I also learned the hard way not to rent to tenants based on an applicants "charm."  I was burned, even though I considered myself to be pretty street-savvy.

This is just part of the deal as a landlord.  You're going to deal with this every time you advertise a rental.

One thing that can help minimize this, is only advertising to tenants you want. For instance, the building I managed was next to a university with a law school, and I loved law students, and I ended up only advertising to the law students whenever possible.  This is totally legal.  So, maybe you can change where/how you advertise for new tenants.

David M. · Answer

@Marc Izquierdo

I think it’s the “reverse” sales mentality if you will.  If you don’t ask, you’ll never know.  Let’s face it, when an applicant score is poor, the only thing they can do is keep asking, right?

Michael Noto · Answer

We deal with this sometimes and these are usually the reasons this happens:

- People do not pay attention to anything you tell them and they just look at the pictures in the ad

- They think they can sell themselves to you at the showing even if they do not meet the minimum qualifications

- People have no idea what their credit score is

- People do not know the difference between "take home income" and "gross income"

Kyle J. · Answer

Happens all the time to me and probably every landlord. Just happened to me last month.

One of my non-negotiable rental criteria is no prior evictions. The applicants all know that, my pre-screen and rental application are all clear about that. However, I still had applicants that turned in applications, and paid the fee, only for me to find out that they had MULTIPLE prior evictions.

Why? Perhaps they were hoping I’d overlook them, wouldn’t even find them, they could talk me into being “flexible” on my criteria, who knows.

But what I do know is that there are landlords who will still rent to them (even if they have rental criteria that says they shouldn’t). How do I know? Because we read their posts on here a few months later explaining their predicament and the reason they decided to accept them in the first place (i.e. felt sorry for them, wanted to give them a chance, scared of a vacancy, etc), and now want advice on how to get them out because they aren’t paying/trashing the place/whatever.

The best thing you can do is just have established rental criteria and then stick to it. Even a vacancy is better than a terrible tenant.

CJ M. · Answer

@Marc Izquierdo

I don't know what's crazier those applicants paying the fees, or having a place vacant for a few months! Yikes

Jonathan R McLaughlin · Answer

@Michael Noto I would also add that people themselves will believe they are great tenants despite all that stuff. Magical thinking is pretty common!

Kyle Mccaw · Answer

Welcome to being a landlord. The saying, "A fool and his money are soon parted," is proven often.

Matt M. · Answer

@Marc Izquierdo

I’ve found that typically people don’t read listings. Listing says no pets, they ask anyway. Credit score of 600? They ask if 500 is ok.

Patrick M. · Answer

I plaster my unit advertisements with No Pets. To the extent that anyone would think I am an animal hater. All over the place and even when replying to emails. What do you think is the first question after showing a unit to 50+% of applicants... Yup!

Bjorn Ahlblad · Answer

Some LL do not screen. They meet the prospective tenant and simply do a gut check. One gut checking LL we know has had more than a few disasters. On one occasion she was going through an eviction and her lawyer mysteriously advised her to do it herself. We suggested she get another lawyer, she did, and that lawyer handled the eviction with the sheriff and the works. She has been through these situations and still does not screen! I guess some tenants are on the lookout for those LL's.

Unqualified people STILL apply!! Why?!??

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