First, get rid of slow and non payers and criminals.

He is shady and criminal.

USD is still the preferred currency for drugs and criminals.

I would tell the tenant that you believe they forged the payment receipt and tell them you are filing a criminal report.

I personally view non payment of rent as a morally criminal act, not legally, but would obviously like to see it as criminal in the eyes of the law.

I would put both of them on lease. make sure they can cover rent and no criminal record. then if something were to happen then you could go after two instead one.

Taking matters into your own hands against criminals and addicts is not for the faint of heart.

Here's the scenario - military applicant with 6x rent in verifiable income, no evictions, no criminal record, decent credit with high balances and a 2 late payments in the last year, nothing currently late, waiting on previous landlord  rental history verification. 

In the rare cases when a holding fee and forms are received for more than one tenant simultaneously or nearly so (in general, within the same business day), xxxxxx will reserve the property for the strongest applicant based on credit score, income, employment, criminal background, and rental history._____________________________________________ ______________Applicant’ s Signature Date_____________________________________________ ______________Applicant’ s Signature Date_____________________________________________ ______________ Representative Signature Date

More important is the credit history, employment history, and criminal history.