All Forum Posts by: Katy Schlueter

I just wanted to thank everyone again for their feedback and help.  I am, obviously, very "green" in this very complicated and seemingly "gray" world of property investing and renting.  It's really nice to have a place to come to for a sounding board.

@Jonathan Klemm I live in Naperville.  The property is actually in Downers Grove - not all that different of an area, although there are a lot of new apartments going up.  Yes, both units have been listed for six weeks.  Like I mentioned above, we've been slowly adjusting the price and our expectations.  The other unit is still available.

@Mark AinleyGuy A started a new job on Nov 7 that qualified him to sign the lease outright.  He wanted Guy B as a co-signer, so we agreed as he had some income and met the credit requirements.  Guy C went on the lease as being permitted to stay in the premises, but was not a signee.  (Perhaps our mistake, but at the time and prior to many of the comments, I assumed us allowing Guy C to sign the lease as meaning we'd accepted him as being responsible for the rent, when we were well aware that he couldn't afford it.  Side note: If there's more info available on leases, I'd really appreciate better understanding what they really hold each party to.  Many here have claimed that guy C isn't responsible for damages since he didn't sign, but guy A and B as signees are responsible... why should that matter to me?)  We ended up signing a lease with Guys A&B for a year on Nov 4.  10 day report - so far, so good.  They've moved in, transferred all utilities and paid all dues thus far.  

With great respect for you and also as a stay-at-home-Mom (former Chemist) myself, I doubt that a SAHM would claim her work status as a "disability."  She would state her circumstances as they are and as long as someone else qualified for the income, there would be no more questions asked.  In light of your example and thinking more on my now tenants, I don't understand why Guy C didn't simply state "I do not work," as the other guys qualified to cover him and had already been covering him for years.  He had no income from disability checks which otherwise would have been a clear reason to share.  His adding the disability without being asked or needing to, made me question whether he was being overly honest or trying to intimidate me.  Which is why I asked this group my second question.  Do I have the right to ask more questions if I'm having trouble deciphering information that the applicant provided - what if that information is sensitive?  Instead, I never talked to him out of fear of being sued and now I get to wonder how safe I really am when tending my own property.  

Perhaps a broader set of questions: In general, what stops a bad person from claiming to have a disability in order to hide behind the potential of a lawsuit?  How would I screen to prove they're being honest in order to protect myself and other tenants?  

Thanks for the information on Tuesday's webinar.  I'm looking forward to it.

@Crystal Smith We have a screening questionnaire that we send every lead prior to scheduling showings. We are specifically using it to eliminate leads who would not qualify.  I fear including a question about special needs/modifications would feel outright discriminatory to those who have/need them.  Like I said in the paragraph above, thinking back, my concern wasn't specifically about the disability, more so about his intention in sharing it with me and whether he posed any threat to other tenants/myself.  

Thank you all again for your help.

@Bruce Woodruff  @Gene Hacker  Thanks so much for your answers!  If Guy A qualified and was willing to be the sole signer on the lease, would you still pass?  We have been listed for over 2 months, slowly dropping the price.  I've screened 60+ people, shown it to 20ish of them, received 2 partial applications that we denied and now this is the first completed one.  I know that accepting a tenant when you're desperate is unwise, but I'm not sure we can do better given the history and we'll only become more desperate as time goes on.

Hi everyone,

I'm currently processing my first ever application for our rental property.  Three guys want to lease for 1 year: Guy A great credit, makes 2.5X rent, no eviction/crime/lien record.  Guy B credit meets our requirement, with a little digging I believe he could prove that he makes at least the other 0.5X rent, screenings clean.  Guy C no credit, no income, claims to be on disability unable to work and has been living for free for two years on the other guys' dime, screenings clean.  I've met the first two guys who at first meeting presented as responsible young adults.  I did not meet the third.  

Questions: Am I within my rights to request they leave Guy C off the lease?  With no credit or a job, he doesn't qualify.  He's fine to live there, I just don't want him to be under contract with me to provide the rent payment.  Am I making sense?  Am I missing anything?

Also, am I within my rights to ask more about his disability?  Can I ask if he poses harm to others?  (If it's a mental disability, the place is a duplex and I'd want to ensure the safety of the other tenants.  If it's a physical disability, the property is what it is, we can't afford to put in ramps, etc.)  Would I ask him directly or Guy A/B?  Or am I walking a fine line for discrimination?

Anyone have any advice?  What would you do?

Thanks so much!