Multiple applications - Landlord Forum thread

Multiple applications by Jenny (CA) on June 26, 2012 @22:05

The thread goes down too fast. Thus posting a new topic.

Trying to do it right. For multiple application cases ( it is really not that case that my property is so hot, it is really hard to find a good tenant with good credit score and process is being drag so long.. ), if I processed them in the order they were submitted, for example, the 1st application is in kind of ok but not perfect condition, I want to know if the 2nd application is better. I know you may say I should not processing them parrallel by law, but practically it might happened, because there are too many cases that the tenant walked away after I approved their application. And the turn around time is too long if I don't process them in parallel. ( please give suggestion what is the best practice. ) I guess it is illegal to tell them that I am processing applications in parrallel, whoever sign the lease and put down deposit will get it.. ( actually is it really illegal? when purchasing property, we do see there are multple offers, and we were asked to acknowledge blah.. ). But it is true that it is hard for them to sign the lease and put down deposit than submitting an application. In my previous rental experience, I had 5 applications submitted in totally, it eventually works out at 5th. I guess the main reason is that I am remote, I can not collection application fee in person, thus it is too easy for them to submit an application. And when I say OK to rent and send Lease Agreement in email and request them to sign and putting down deposit, they walked away for various reasons. I did not want to process the next application until get concret answer from the previous one. This usually waste 2 days. So the best strategy for me is to process in parallel and let them know that they might be competing with others. I guess serious renter will act seriously. I don't know any other good way to do. Is this illegal?

Also other related questions,
1) For those that I do not get chance to process, is it request to inform them that in writting? I guess it is required to return their (non-refundable ) Application fee if not used, is it?

2) Back to the same question, how soon I need to notify that applications that the application is rejected? Will notification with my signature attached in email work?

Thanks!

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Re: Multiple applications by Anonymous on June 27, 2012 @01:55	[ Reply ]

Process them as you get them. Rate them. If the first one doesn't meet your standards or criteria, go on to the next one. You have to do this legally. Perhaps someone else will be able to address the details of a time line and how that is handled. You're going to have issues just because you are not local to the rental. You'll have to find a way to handle things. Most times, responses to applicants who did not pass your criteria, if required by law or by courtesy, will say something like "Thank you for your application. At this time, we cannot offer your a tenancy." If needed, you may want to say "Another applicant was more qualified." I'm sure others will chime in here with other good phrases to use, or not use. I tend to NOT use email as it is not acceptable in court in may states, should push come to shove.

Re: Multiple applications by NY-LL on June 27, 2012 @10:50	[ Reply ]

We require a rental binder agreement equivalent of one months rent with copies of income statements (3 most recent) and credit report prior to completion of the rental application. The rental binder is refundable within fifteen (15) days provided the rental application is not approve or the prospective tenants do not provide all required documentation to complete the rental requirements. The request for the rental binder eliminates all unqualified, disinterested and less serious prospective tenants … (saves a lot of time and wasted paperwork). Most relevant to the landlord's inquiry is the number of units in the property.

Re: Multiple applications by Anna Mouse (CO) on June 27, 2012 @11:15	[ Reply ]

I believe that your real problem is that you are not there in person. There are so many scams out there that you may not get a good tenant because of trying to do this remotely. Who sends money to someone they have not met? How do they know you even own the property? If I were a tenant I would not rent from anyone that I was unable to meet. Being a LL I would not rent to anyone that I was unable to meet. I would strongly suggest that you go to your property and take applications in person. How do you know the condition of your property without being there to assess it? Doing a walk about of the property does not beat spending a bit of time there really going through every nook and cranny. By doing this myself I am well aware of the condition the last tenant left the property in and the condition the new tenant receives it. My last tenant left a gouge in the hardwood floors and if I had not been there cleaning said floors this may have been missed or blamed on someone else. If you were taking applications in person I believe many of your problems would be elminated. When you get an application you start processing it. If there is a problem, like they can't sign the lease until later, you have not meet all applicants, something does not check out and you must ask for additional information is when you pause. If the pause is to long you might then look at the next application. Also I would not cash multiple checks for screening. I don't know what is legal or not but my moral senses say that is not right. You don't need to cash their check until you get to the point in screening that you are checking their credit ect. You could waste your money on a property manager and still maybe be ahead because at least they will pretend to manage it professionally. I would think that the money you spent on a property manager could be used to buy a plane ticket and do it yourself. Hopefully you could find a maintenance person you could trust to also help you assess problems if and when they occur on the property. A tenant who is legit will want to know that someone is available.