Screening tenant during covid-19

[Nathan Nguyen]

Hi investors,

So i am currently screening a potential tenant (J) who seems like they're committed to the property. Here's the story, this property is a row home and J's father who lives in on the same block saw my previous tenants move out and had been coming over every other day to ask about renting the property to his son. I've since been contact with J who is married and has 1 child, who says he want to move out of their apartment into a bigger house closer to his father. J says he doesn't have a problem paying the 3 months security deposit and is anxious to sign and move in "because he would have to pay for this current apartment too".

Here's my problem, J works as a school bus driver and collects unemployment during off time (which is now--and potentially for how much longer COVID-19 pandemic will last). His wife is also collecting unemployment at this time. The paystubs that they gave me were both from 2019 when life was still normal. I've called to verify their employment and so far has only gotten answers from J's job saying they'll most likely to call him when job becomes available. Haven't been able to talk to their current landlord to check if they pay rent on time. I've asked for some info on his dad to check on his employment (no background yet since dad would not live on property) and have hinted to J that he may have to get his dad involved on the lease but have not said anything concrete yet. Dad showed me some paystubs that were from March 2020.

What should I do at this point?

J were the first people to see my place as I was doing some repairs on it. I haven't put the rent sign up yet so idk what the lvl interest from other renters will be.

I'm also worried about having a vacant property since COVID-19 has been raging and unemployment rates has gone up.