Changed my mind about applicants... legally ok?

[Amanda Thompson]

What risks should I be considering, from a legal standpoint, about changing my mind about offering a lease? I doubt any discrimination laws apply... and how would you let them know you no longer want to offer them a lease?

I have 5 adults (and 2 dogs) wanting to rent one of our brand new houses. We own the houses... my husband builds them and I manage them through my LLC. We had agreed on a move in date, I wrote the lease, and my husband & I busted our butts to make sure the house was ready on time. The afternoon before the move-in they emailed to let me know they wouldn't be signing the lease until after they got a walk through of the finished house. I canceled the online lease signing and arranged a time tomorrow to walk them through. They said once they see it, they will decide when they will sign the lease (they've already had 2 tours of the house next door with the same floorplan). On top of that, they're now bringing one of their dads (who "knows construction and real estate") to inspect the house and ask me legal questions about the lease.

I now am getting SUPER HIGH MAINTENANCE TENANT vibes! I'm going to see how the walk through goes, but if they start nit picking things, or requesting more things be done, I do not want to deal with them for an entire lease term. The house is absolutely gorgeous and a high quality, custom build.