But I see other seniors in my building with gambling problems (lots of Indian casinos around here), who smoke cigarettes and/or pot, who spend their money at the local bar, going out to eat, buying new clothes, etc.  

You don't have to rent to anyone who is rude to you, or mean to their spouse in front of you, or whose children are out of control screaming up and down stairs, or who smell of pot or cigarettes or who appear high, etc., etc.You also can deny anyone who lies on an application or who doesn't complete it.  

Admitted to smoking 2 cigarettes a day outside.  

Your job is to not let them prioritize cigarettes or lottery tickets or pedicures or whatever over paying you.Next time, you won't let anyone slide. 

It's also great to be able to hear them talk to each other, if it's a couple, or to see who they bring with them, and do they smell like cigarette smoke, etc.Good luck.  

If it was a bunch of cigarette butts (been there) I'd charge the tenant.Also, be sure and tell all your tenants that flushable wipes aren't flushable. 

Some random guy walking down the street throws a cigarette on your lawn and ignites it and that causes your neighbor's house to burn down. 

Whenever an applicant started out with requesting a discount, or complaining about this or that, or asking or demanding that we provide this or that (from blackout curtains to guarantees of never smelling cigarette smoke...), I learned over many years and many tenants that this is a tenant I will have wished I'd never rented to.So, take it from me, if there is any way you can deny this applicant, do it. 

I went inside the house a year ago to fix something and it stinks to heck of cigarettes.

People can spend $5 per day on cigarettes or drugs, so they have money.Also, a lot of elderly people are living on social security.