If they put up a fight about the fees tell them, "the fees are what it actually costs to screen you and we did perform the screening; however, the property was leased to another applicant."

Let the passive investment crowd fight each other for the properties in the B-class area.

I believe one tenant went to legal aid and was told that everything I was doing was legal, so she ended up leaving without a fight. 

once you hand cash over, it is not traceable or recoverable.MAYBE with an actual lawsuit but that cost way more than the money you are fighting for.I am a bit shocked everyone is telling you it is ok!

If you arent married and split up, with both of you on the deed, you could be fighting over the house for years.

If you believe you have better comps, then give those to the appraiser and fight it. 

If they say no from there it's all about how hard you want to fight.

The allusion is to gunpowder which soldiers had to keep dry in order to be ready to fight when required.

It's a matter of finding a lawyer who is willing to "be hired to fight your side of the issue". 

@Frank Boet There used to be a saying "Don't fight the Fed".