Failure to follow these rules can lead to fines or even criminal charges as I understand it.

The building has 900sqft of office and 1500sqft of shop space with a 1/4 acre of fenced in gravel yard.

He had a criminal record a mile long.

I agree I think very few folks start off with criminal intent.

I've still had some with criminal records applying (and being declined), but they can't say they weren't made aware ...

This occupant has to have somethin on the ball to be in a house of that value, he's no skid row bumb, usually they won't get into criminal behavior destroying the place, they will sit as long as they can but I doubt the sheriff will be dragging them to the curb. :)

We're at the point where after ten years of renting out grade C apartments in a low rent town,  we know more about eviction law in our state than most lawyers do.The corollary is to screen well, but if you're dealing with low end rentals, anyone willing to live there will have bad credit, so what you're really screening for is past evictions, lawsuits, nuisance suits by the tenant, court judgements, and criminal behavior. 

But he is abusive and a criminal.

This also includes a criminal background. http://www.mysmartmove.com

A: In a statement issued by the Housing Authority of Cook County in connection with the consideration by the Cook County Board of whether to prohibit discrimination based upon a prospective tenant participating in a housing choice voucher program the Housing Authority of Cook County stated as follows: “Owners still have the ability to screen all applicants for suitability for tenancy, applying their screening criteria – criminal background checks, credit checks, home visits, landlord references, etc. – equitably amongst all applicants.