Disqualifiers – go!

Disqualifiers – go!

Disqualifiers – go! (by CJ [FL]) Posted on: Aug 23, 2023 11:39 PM
Please tell me your disqualifying characteristics or the standards you expect of applicants. What written ( or unwritten) criteria do you use when vetting an applicant. How about these topics: petit theft, dui, stalking, etc. Give me the requirements that you use that you feel have enabled you to “dodge a bullet”.

Disqualifiers – go! (by Pat [VA]) Posted on: Aug 24, 2023 6:11 AM
1. When they start off by bad mouthing their landlord. (Won’t fix anything, etc.)
2. Living with family.
3. Single parent that just needs another chance.
4. Just started a job or looking for one.

Disqualifiers – go! (by Dave [MO]) Posted on: Aug 24, 2023 8:04 AM
1. 2 minute in home inspection.
2. When they use a middle name for the first and you can’t find any info on Mo.casenet then you flip the names and find they just served time for felonies.
3. Speaking with former LL.
4. Asking questions to the LL listed on the application but it is a friend.

Disqualifiers – go! (by David [MI]) Posted on: Aug 24, 2023 8:10 AM
“I have a co-signer”

Disqualifiers – go! (by Oreo [WI]) Posted on: Aug 24, 2023 9:11 AM
Stalking is surely a disqualifier…altho that has only happened to me after I denied based on what the previous still current LL told me about all their lease violations.

Disqualifiers – go! (by FloridaNative [FL]) Posted on: Aug 24, 2023 9:23 AM
Smoking of any type. Too many occupants. Income isn’t verifiable because “it’s in cash/under the table”. Attitude is a big one. If they are in a huge rush to occupy. If they need to negotiate F/L/S payment rather than pay up front.

Disqualifiers – go! (by S i d [MO]) Posted on: Aug 24, 2023 9:31 AM
Not cooperative/fails to follow directions during the screening process.
Violent felony conviction.
Drug manufacture conviction.
Registered sex offender.
Income < 3x the rent.
Ever been evicted… even once… even if it was 20 years ago.
More than 3 delinquent/past due accounts on credit report.
Owed previous landlord money at move out.
Non-renewed by last landlord for cause (i.e. lease violations).
Fails/refuses 2-minute in home inspection.

Disqualifiers – go! (by Busy [WI]) Posted on: Aug 24, 2023 9:37 AM
3 ‘you shoulds’ , in other words, “you should do this, you should do that.

Disqualifiers – go! (by Vee [OH]) Posted on: Aug 24, 2023 10:27 AM
Smoke of any type here also – I follow the 2009 -breath easy- federal rule prohibiting smoking at any rental – not many know about this. any leftover court balance, eviction in recent 7 years. dog warden problems, bites cost 60,000 legal fees – I don’t want to be part of that bulloney.

You must do a 2 minute home inspection to see what your place will look like in 3 weeks, most go badly with rusty hot rods and animals tied to a broken fence.

Disqualifiers – go! (by plenty [MO]) Posted on: Aug 24, 2023 10:32 AM
Those all may be a niche market but not for me. In addition what does their car look like? Is it on its last day, is it well kept? Cause when it breaks rent money goes there first. –172.59.xxx.xxx

Disqualifiers – go! (by Ray-N-Pa [PA]) Posted on: Aug 24, 2023 10:37 AM
Late for the appointment = late with paying –24.101.xxx.xxx

Disqualifiers – go! (by WMH [NC]) Posted on: Aug 24, 2023 10:38 AM
In no particular order:

* Trashing ex-landlord
* Violent crimes against people or property OR
* too many police interactions altogether: pages of petty crimes on rap sheet
* too MANY animals
* income
* doesn’t have SD saved up ready to go, wants a payment plan
* Attitude / demeanor –50.82.xxx.xxx

Disqualifiers – go! (by Deanna [TX]) Posted on: Aug 24, 2023 10:42 AM
I’ve never had an assault family violence be successful. I think I’ve given that one a chance three times before I caught on. 😛

Organized crime is another one to avoid. Normally, it’s such a glaring red flag, but I let one in as a favor to a long-term tenant who promised to run his life. Spoiler: it didn’t work out.

General cooperativeness is another one. When someone is going to tell you how it’s going to be, at the stage when they’re trying to impress you— spoiler: they don’t get more cooperative as time passes.

Appreciation of the house. The moment they start criticizing the house, I agree with them. (Number of outlets in a room, landscaping, countertops, it’s-not-cute-enough, whatever.) They totally need a house with more outlets/better landscaping/granite countertops/cuteness/whatever. You totally shouldn’t have to settle for something less. Good luck with your search.

Disqualifiers – go! (by plenty [MO]) Posted on: Aug 24, 2023 11:44 AM
Put down of my house. They can improve it. They are worthy of more. How darn I ask over market price for “this” property. Dogg-ing my property. Unruly kids and lack of parenting. –172.59.xxx.xxx

Disqualifiers – go! (by Me [CA]) Posted on: Aug 24, 2023 12:48 PM
I know your ad says…. But…. –47.149.xxx.xxx

Disqualifiers – go! (by Dave [CA]) Posted on: Aug 24, 2023 1:23 PM
I GOTTA ADD:
O my g-d,…..we really love your house.
It’s perfect for us
We want it.
When can we move in

Disqualifiers – go! (by Robert J [CA]) Posted on: Aug 24, 2023 2:35 PM
For “each and every different property and size of a unit in the property, ” I have different qualifications that the applicant must pass”. Way before I run an ad on the rental, I commit to paper, with a time and date stamp what I’m looking for and sometimes a deal killer!

Recently I had a 2 bedroom apartment with a large private 50′ x 30′ back yard. Since this is the “only” unit in this apartment complex that I will allow a mature trained gentle dog to live, I have exact language in my application and lease that covers the topic.

Such as NO visiting dogs. Tenants dog must chipped, medical records from birth must be provided. Current vaccination and annual license must be provided by tenant to landlord upon request. Failure to comply will get the dog evicted by force and dropped off at Animal Control. Plus the tenant must carry renters insurance with dog rider covering the landlord. Failure to do so and a claim filed by a neighbor for their dog attacking them of their pet will trigger a $10,000 fine payable to the landlord and a lien will be placed on the tenants car or assets.

I had a person show up without their drivers license, credit card or passport. I would not run their application. They were rejected. They contacted Housing and said I was discrimination and the Housing Department issued a $15,000 fine against me without a hearing, or investigation. I went to the applicants business and got them fired.

Disqualifiers – go! (by DJ [VA]) Posted on: Aug 24, 2023 7:34 PM
Oh, so many good ones here already – there’s isn’t much to add.

I will only point out that ALL screening criteria need to be WRITTEN DOWN. Like it has been said, the set of criteria for that specific house – before it’s advertised.

Don’t use UNWRITTEN criteria – that’s just code for your gut. You must be ablate defend yourself with documentation if you are ever accused.

You can / should have DETAILED explanations of what each criteria means, and how it will be measured. For instance: what will be evaluated during an in-home visit?

Disqualifiers – go! (by RB [TN]) Posted on: Aug 24, 2023 9:48 PM
Animals.

Disqualifiers – go! (by Mapleaf18 [NY]) Posted on: Aug 25, 2023 4:15 AM
Any mention of “ESA” which is code for BatSCrazy

Disqualifiers – go! (by MC [PA]) Posted on: Aug 25, 2023 6:22 AM
Anyone who uses “God bless”. –73.230.xxx.xx

Disqualifiers – go! (by FloridaNative [FL]) Posted on: Aug 25, 2023 9:42 AM
Yes, MC, that’s exactly right. I forgot about that one.

Also anyone that is a preacher or minister, IME they look for free rent and a reduction on F/L/S.

Disqualifiers – go! (by Sir Walter [NC]) Posted on: Aug 25, 2023 4:01 PM

Although I empathize with what you are saying about “God bless”, it might be a regional thing.

In my neck of the woods, it would be a disqualifier if someone were offended by the use of “God bless” since it is such a common greeting. That would be a predictor of someone who would flunk the cooperation test. It is not so much a religious thing as an indicator of not being able to get along with others. If someone cannot be courteous or if they are contemptuous, that is a disqualifier.

Disqualifiers – go! (by Jason [MI]) Posted on: Aug 25, 2023 7:42 PM
1. Late for showing
2. Sec 8
3. Complains about current or landlord
4. No garnishable income

Disqualifiers – go! (by Deanna [TX]) Posted on: Aug 25, 2023 9:43 PM
Oh– another one is, “It’s perfect, I love it, when can I move in?” within the first 10 seconds, and without even looking through the rooms, visualizing furniture, etc. For my internationals, I understand– but for my Americans, it’s a red flag. –172.59.xxx.xxx

Disqualifiers – go! (by MC [PA]) Posted on: Aug 26, 2023 5:31 AM
Can I paint? Telling me of their repair skills/handyperson skills. –73.230.xxx.xx

Disqualifiers – go! (by Oreo [WI]) Posted on: Aug 27, 2023 1:17 AM
DAVE, DEANNA: When I first started in this business, I wanted tenants that loved our places as much as I did; I still do. So when I showed my first rental, many came through. The one I really wanted was the young lady who came with her husband.

When she first walked in she just loved the place. My favorite room in that house was the dining room, unique to many of the houses of that style…and that’s what she fell in love with. She stayed for quite awhile. The carpet layers did not show up to put new carpet in the day before the Sunday ad came out (back when that’s where you placed your ad in those days) and the ad had been placed on a deadline. But this person could see that with the carpet it would be the perfect place for them. They stayed for 5 years, then moved downstairs in the same building when they were expecting their first child and needed more room. Then stayed until they purchased a house.

Now I wait for the person who loves the place. I can tell if they are faking it; I still do all screening. I also can tell they feel “home” when they stay awhile…I’ve had several I’ve had to usher out because they sat down, got comfortable and I could tell they could feel it was “home” for them. They were chosen after all screening, but I just knew they were the ones for the places. They all stayed a long time and took the best care because they loved the place. Still have one now that loved the place. As we sat on the porch she mentioned having coffee out there in the mornings…she’s out there all the time.

Disqualifiers – go! (by Sarah [FL]) Posted on: Aug 27, 2023 7:58 AM
Someone that talks a lot and says how great they are and how they will care for the place and that their last landlord just loved them and doesn’t want to let them go. Too chummy and very prepared with documents in hand especially like a stellar letter from their last landlord. Red flag. Turns out the two occasions I am thinking of had extensive court related issues. Or a couple or some roommates who tag team calling too often to inquire about the process- anxious to get in quickly….

Disqualifiers – go! (by Jasper [OH]) Posted on: Aug 27, 2023 1:29 PM
“I’m OCD about cleaning.”

Disqualifiers – go! (by Ryan24 [MD]) Posted on: Aug 28, 2023 9:28 AM
1. When they start off by bad mouthing their landlord. (Won’t fix anything, etc.) -> We actually do have some slum lord landlords and management around that some people will kindly “badmouth” but not too aggressively or nasty. Just mentioning some things that haven’t been fixed or issues they have been having. We don’t have a problem with this because we will also speak to the landlord and get that side of the story as well as a current residence inspection which is the real qualifier. You can tell fairly easily if they are clean and tidy people and the landlord just doesn’t fix things that are not their responsibility. It does happen and some people are moving just because of it. The applicant has a higher standard than the current landlord and that is welcome in our units.

2. Living with family. -> there are many people we get that have been living with family either because they sold a house really fast and needed a place to live, moving out for the first time (even 30+ yr olds), had a baby, moved across the country and needed a place near family, etc. The rest of their application has far more to do with how they will be as a tenant rather than if they live with family or not. Plus, the current residence inspection will speak to how they were brought up and how they keep their space.

3. Single parent that just needs another chance -> We don’t mind single parents. If they “need another chance” that usually means poor credit with lots of missed payments, lack of a job or job hopping, criminal background or something else. I would not turn someone down because they are a single parent. Rather, if they don’t meet your criteria elsewhere that may be grounds for denial.

4. Just started a job or looking for one -> If they just started a job, we will look at the job history. If they are job hoppers (4 or more jobs in the last 3 years for a single applicant) than that is a denial. No steady income. If they are just starting a new job from a relocation or a significant pay increase, that is altogether reasonable. And some people are moving for just that purpose – to be closer to work. If you have no job, you have to have a good reason for it and be able to show sufficient income from elsewhere (Disability, child support, etc) or significant savings (Yes we have a criteria for that as well) that is not in a retirement account that can support living expenses.

As a general rule – you should have all your criteria written down and stick to it. No exceptions. If there is an exception it should be written in your criteria and therefore not an exception. Exceptions get you in trouble. Just had one the other day that was seemingly a decent candidate but exceeded the number of allowable jobs for our criteria. After discussion and revisiting the criteria, we stuck with it because it is a good metric and showed that the applicants didn’t have a stable employment.

And always do your current residence inspection regardless of where they currently live. I have had people do them for me out of state and across the country. Its a bit of a pain to find someone on call but I have done it several times and it is worth it.

Disqualifiers – go! (by Mick [CA]) Posted on: Aug 28, 2023 12:25 PM
OMG! Some of these are hilarious, but too true. My ad says “no smoking”. When I phone pre-screen, I reiterate “no smoking”. So the last prospect I auditioned sent a text of his pay stubs with a pack of opened Marlboros in the picture.

Disqualifiers – go! (by Oreo [WI]) Posted on: Aug 29, 2023 12:42 AM
Mick, same! Look the guy up on FB and his FB pic has him sitting alone at a table in a bar smoking!

Disqualifiers – go! (by BB [GA]) Posted on: Sep 20, 2023 6:11 PM
Any hinting of renting furniture or appliances is automatic denial.

Disqualifiers – go! (by Alan [AB]) Posted on: Sep 21, 2023 6:36 PM
I saw a few I’d fail.

-I’m looking for a job. I really was!
-I’m OCD about cleaning. I really am!
-Renting furniture or appliances I would do if I can’t have such things furnished.
-Income < 3x rent – the story of my life, but I always am paid up 300% in advance.
-Smoking I did until 1997. My rentals all started prior to that.
-I wanted my distant girlfriend to move in with me so I left my parents’ basement. The girlfriend didn’t come, but it got me on the road to independence.
-No credit report, but back then (1983) no one asked for one.
-I have a cat.
-I currently live in a country motel.

However, I learned that my ways aren’t the norm and too many people fit the descriptions of people I WOULDN’T HAVE BROUGHT HOME to meet my parents (many of those I did were awful enough). I was considered a “Manager” of sorts (I collected rents, passed along concerns, etc, but the LL was around enough to take care of most things. Even here, I am handy in case of blowing a breaker and doing the occasional check-in. My favorite potential tenant that I turned away gave me an address of a house they lived in another city that I happened to know, “Oh is that the house with the bachelor suite with the separate entrance off the garden?” Whoosh…GONE! –198.53.xxx.xx

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