We've all heard that phrase "don't call me at 3AM unless the house is on fire"Why would a landlord want a 3AM phone call to hear that their house is on fire?

I never say "no" or tell them not to apply, but I use a few key phrases, such as....

My buddy offered $5000 reward when his bike got stolen, as it wasn't insured.Have you ever heard the phrase, when you find yourself in a hole, stop digging?

If it's phrased like this, tenants are usually okay with it - so they don't feel they are personally being inspected.And if you phrase it right with your PM, they shouldn't feel like you're micro-managing. 

I was just thinking this morning that I needed to post a question on BP on "exactly" what a rent roll consisted of and what they typically look like.I've heard the phrase a few time on here...especially when someone is talking about buying an apartment building...and while I could surmise that the gist of them is to give a prospective buyer an idea of what rents are being collected, perhaps which tenants are problem payers, I wasn't quite sure exactly what they included.

We too charge the equivalent of two months rent (but don't phrase it that way).You don't need to have it in the lease.  

One phrase in my tool box is "You know and I know _____________ is going on.

It's a turn-off (to show my age) to read a bunch of No this and No that.So for what it's worth, I'd phrase it more like a simple check-off list that won't offend anyone who is able to say, yep, I qualify.Such as what others have said above. 

I wouldn't even begin to know how to phrase that kind of statement. 

If they are "very qualified" and they like the place so much, they should have the means to pay the month's rent to hold it.On another note, I see that phrase "tenant friendly property manager" quite a bit on here and that concerns me.