I was floored how some people live initially but I’ve grown to just accept slob mentality.

SO keeping the debt to income ratio at an acceptable level can be challenging.

What can you do to minimize those risk and how much risk are you just willing to accept? 

Personal checks for security deposit aren’t a good idea, so I would recommend not accepting them as a payment method on move in.

The recipient of a qualified demand request has seven days by federal law or shorter, if any state law is shorter, to return the demand to the requestor.If funds are insufficient, they won't be accepted and will be returned to the sender (Assuming funds are sent).

@Shawn Ward that is awesome info social justice warriorI mean Shawn wardThank you

Honestly, tracking costs in excel (or even on paper, if your accountant will accept it) is easier than it sounds. 

If it got accepted I would probably be terrified.

My local craigslist is loaded with apartments for rent that indicate we do not accept section 8 tenants.....

Give them a specific time frame to accept the rent raise and I would give them 60 days to find a new place if they decide not to stay and make sure you reference you will provide thema great reference so they realize they need to cooperate when looking elsewhere.