Re: extra address on credit report - Landlord Forum thread 332532

Re: extra address on credit report by CCRider (CA) on March 23, 2015 @20:51

J, I'm sorry, but I believe you need to deny her based on an incomplete application and information regarding previous addresses.

There are too many red flags here.

As far as the address on the report - she would have used that address at some point. I actually had to verify my identity over the phone recently with PayPal, and they pulled info from my credit report. One of the addresses they asked me if I'd ever been associated with, was a former address of my daughter's. I stayed with her for a couple of weeks before moving into a new place there, and have no recollection of using her address.

I'm old, ha ha, and none of the many, many addresses on my report are incorrect.

So, you have to assume she is lying. That coupled with the fact that she didn't even put her SS# on the application shows, at BEST, that this girl isn't worried about details, and she doesn't respect the landlord-tenant relationship. She won't be worried about paying on time, or will expect you to remind her, etc.

Something is fishy with someone who gives notice without finding a new place. And even fishier is the fact that she still hasn't found a place, and the clock is running out.

From prior experience, this is what I think happened - she moved out with the BF and it's not working out. She'll move into your place, and the drama will start. Maybe he'll move in, and maybe she'll just move out. But, there will be screaming arguments that upset everyone and the cops get called, etc., etc., etc.

Stick to your criteria that you don't accept tenants who don't complete the application, or who lie to you, even by omission. A decent tenant will fill out the application, and then ASK you if you really need their bank account number, or do you need a phone number, etc. I learned quickly not to rent to tenants this blase about giving you details to screen them with.

Sorry for the bad news. I urge you to keep looking. I may be wrong, but better safe than sorry.

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Re: extra address on credit report by CCRider (CA) on March 23, 2015 @20:56	[ Reply ]

Another note. I also stopped renting to people in a hurry - by learning the hard way. My only exceptions were students who had just been accepted last minute, or a person who had just been offered a job and were relocating. But, hey, I gave notice but am just now looking to rent from you with 3 days to go? No way, Jose. Hey, J, is your name Jose? :-)

to CC Rider: by J (FL) on March 23, 2015 @22:27	[ Reply ]

CC: I AM still nervous about this person, even though the credit and everything has checked out so far...I've had people leave incompletes on the app before but I've never had to push someone to finish the app like this--on each page she was asking if she had to fill it in? She finally did fill it all in...I probably should have just let her turn in an incomplete application... Although she just barely makes my income requirement, my rental is also costs about $250 more than the places she has been living prior...I don't think she thought this part through...I get the feeling she is disorganized and doesn't understand how things work...her brother was the one who came to view the place for her initially and then brought her later to fill in the application. The story of why she's moving is supposedly her current place promised her a W/D in the unit but it wasn't there when she moved in, so she's upset. I'm not clear on what basis I can deny her at this point...one of my criteria states that those who need to move within the next 14 days will be "under investigation"...can I use this legally to deny even though I have already had her fill out an application?

Re: to CC Rider: by CCRider (CA) on March 24, 2015 @02:55	[ Reply ]

First of all, remember that this is your rental and you don't have to hurry to rent it to anybody - just because they are in a hurry. You can deny her based on your fear that she will be difficult to deal with, as she was difficult about filling out the application and that she seems incapable of making her own decisions, based on the fact her brother came to get the app, and then brought her to fill out the app. And that you don't rent to people who wait until the last minute to find an apartment, and choose not to move into a place they already rented and put themselves in the position of becoming homeless.... Any of the above are not a protected class. Flaky, immature, difficult people are not a protected class. And you don't have to explain your reason for turning her down, unless your state law says you have to - which I doubt. And if you don't turn her down based on credit, you don't have to provide her with the credit-based denial letter. If you feel you need to say something to her, just say, "I've decided to keep looking for another tenant." And if for some reason you think you have to say more, just say, "I have decided not to rent to anyone who is difficult about wanting to fill out the application completely, and with you it was like pulling teeth. Good luck." So, if she calls fair housing and tells them you turned her down because she was difficult about filling out her application, and they ask her if she was difficult, and she says - well I just asked him if I had to fill everything out - they'll tell her she has no case, because stupid girls who don't want to fill out applications are not a protected class LOL.

Re: to CC Rider: by J (FL) on March 24, 2015 @08:08	[ Reply ]

Thanks CC, for the detailed post...that makes perfect sense...although this person looks good on paper, I'm not comfortable with the behavior...I think if I rent to her it will come back to bite me in the butt.

What would you propose?

Re: What would you propose?