How to turn away applicants based on Social Media posts?

Question

I'm I'm a new landlord, we are just starting with our first rental. It is the home we lived in for 9 years. I posted it yesterday, and I've had some interest.

my question is, how do you turn away applicants without getting in trouble? I have one girl that has applied, and her application looks pretty good. She has two dogs, which we are allowing because we're not going to be changing out the carpeting at this time. Overall her application looks fairly good, although I haven't contacted her previous landlords yet. And I have not received application for her fiance who will be living here with her. First thing I did waslook her up on Facebook. She had to buy a camera recently to try to figure out which dog is peeing on the carpet in her current home. She also talked about vaping a couple months ago, and we will not allow any smoking or vaping on our property. She also posted last week that she's looking for a new place to live and can only afford 1300 a month. We are asking 1664 per month. But the kicker is, she's engaged to another woman. That's fine and dandy, but the problems are the dogs peeing on carpet, and I don't think she can afford this home and I don't think she thinks she can afford this home. By having screenshots of her Facebook, is that enough to turn her away? I absolutely do not want animals in my house that are not housebroken.

can I turn her away before she's even seen the house because of these Facebook post? Should I email her amor personal application versus the rentler style applications, asking about lifestyle choices, such as and please include a picture of your dogs, are they housebroken, do you smoke, do you vape, things to that nature.

I understand that none of you are attorneys, and I might be calling one up just to cover my bases, I just wondered in your experiences.

Taylor Chiu · Answer

There are a few landmines you have to avoid when turning away tenants, but these are some options you could use that should be safe:We're still considering our options We found a different applicant that we are acceptingThe unit is no longer available

Michaela G. · Answer

There are so many ways for now. Her fiance hasn't submitted the application, so the 1 alone is moot. Unless you have both, you don't even want to officially work on 1 of them. In the meantime keep showing and hope that someone else applies and you don't have to continue with this one. I'm someone who would absolutely say that I've read her FB page and since her dog isn't housebroken I would not rent to her. I'm sure everyone here disagrees with me, but I have no problem spitting it out. You have every right to check out her FB and if your qualification is that the dog needs to be housebroken, she does not fit the criteria. I' m very grateful for social media ;-). I've turned down more than 1 applicant with guns and gang signs on their FB account.

Ned J. · Answer

$1664 a month? Kind a of a weird number :)....You don't even have a complete application yet.....I know you are trying to plan ahead, but you may have other issues that disqualify her without the FB....you don't know yet. Plus I assume this is your first applicant since you just listed it....don't rush your decision. You said her app looks good.....based on what? What are you criteria for income, rental history, credit score, previous landlord references?Lets assume she meets all of your criteria with flying colors..... and she is your best applicant.....but the issue is the dogs pissing on everything....and possibly vaping.You have documentation that her dogs are going to destroy your carpet....so you either factor that into a hefty deposit knowing that they will speed up the depreciation on the carpet..... or you say NO thanks.I would have ZERO issue with pointing out the FB stuff IF I needed to...... but I probably wouldn't since they will then take it down and the next landlord will have no idea.I would do nothing for now....keep showing, take more applicants and likely you will find a better choice.I personally don't notify tenants when they don't get the unit..... I know some landlords do. I just tell applicants when I will stop taking applicants and will be notifying my finals choices to go to the next step of verifying all the info etc. If you don't hear from me by X date, then you didn't make the cut. Unless an applicant contacts me for a "why", I don't provide a "why"....and if I do, its very vague along the lines of " I found a more qualified and compatible applicant".....very vagueAnd don't even look or breath in the vicinity of them being a gay couple....don't bring that up AT ALL...or they will latch onto that being THE reason they got declined

Grant Rothenburger · Answer

@Laura Johnson There are a lot of other things you can say to her/them without bringing up FB. Ideally, you get a more qualified tenant and that is your reason.