That way, if he's just a bum who wants to live for free or can't qualify somewhere on his own or doesn't have a job or whatever - you'll have screened him out. 

Legal consequences of lying/inducing someone else to pick up your problem tenant aside, you ought to give other investors a professional courtesy.

Now that I have thoroughly assimilated this reality (which initially bummed us out), we have decided it will behoove us on several fronts to be sure we're doing everything on the up and up. 

A retailer may, however, offer discounts for the purpose of inducing payment by cash, check, or other means not involving the use of a credit card, provided that the discount is offered to all prospective buyers.

To better help you understand my audience, my tenants are comprised of college students, strippers, ski bums, and kids burning through their trust funds.  

Suing for damages on a breach of contract isn't going to be great because as Account Closed have noted, you have a claim here for fraud in the inducement or mutual mistake of fact. 

Your financial hardship, due to your failure to prepare, does not induce my charity.

Educate yourself on how to better manage while dealing with removing these bums so you're better prepared next time.

Some of the earlier BP episodes feature people talking about picking up rent in cash -- you can try to enforce the use of a portal, but if she texts you that she needs a plumber because the bathtub is overflowing, you're going to be bummed that you blocked her number.

Nothing wrong with it, but I think that induces risk because you can be over reliant.