Renting to a multi-generation family when mom has horrible credit

[Lori Schaffer]

Hello friends, I have a rental application with a son, his wife, two kids, and mother. I just received the background check, and the mother has horrible credit, with $15k in collection, and several credit cards closed with bad debt. I would not rent to her if it were just her. The son's credit check is fine. Should I rent to them as a group anyway? Or are there other red flags? I consider that the young couple might be moving in for the purpose of getting their mother situated in a place, and then they will move out. Should I put something into the lease to prevent me getting stuck with just her? What? Any advice will be helpful.

[David Murphy]

If it was me I would make sure that the rental agreement be in the name of the young couple rather than the mother. If this cant be made the case then I would move on to the next possible tenants. I'm rather risk-averse but some may be willing to take the risk.