Criminal background check

[Gina Nicolas]

Good morning all,

I just screened an applicant for a rental property that I have in PA. The criminal background check showed that the applicant commit a crime , Manslaughter. I sent the applicant a letter explaining that I need more details about it. Also the applicant currently has 4 open accounts with 4 different collections agencies for an amount of $ 1900. On my application it does say that applicant must Exhibit a responsible financial life. I m not sure that  I want to rent my property to someone that has a bad history of paying her debt. Anyway, I just received a text from the applicant that her lawyer wants to talk to me because it is illegal to deny anyone rental for a criminal history. What should be my next step. I can contact my lawyer but a this time is that really necessary or should I wait. Moreover, I did not denied her yet, I just told her that we need more information about the crime that was made but she got very offended, she did fill out the application that gave permission for the criminal background check but the applicant claimed that information should have never been available to me. What should be my next move. As a landlord, I believe that I have the right  to know what kind of crime was made by an applicant before I approve him or her to live in my rental

Thank you all

[Bjorn Ahlblad]

@Gina Nicolas I get the feeling you might drag yourself into a bad place. Remember no good deed goes unpunished! You are dealing with a deadbeat past criminal applicant here you should already have simply put in the 'no' file. There is no txt or letter from a lawyer just a txt from a disgruntled applicant. 

Criminals are not a protected class and neither are folks who don't pay their bills. On top of it all this individual is becoming 'huffy' with you at this early stage. Imagine what they will be like when they are 3 months behind on rent and protected by a moratorium or whatever else gets cooked up by overzealous politicians. It is a lot easier to keep these folks out than it is to get them out. All the best!