Landlord Question and Answer Forum

I spoke to this nice gentlement severeal times on the phone. He said his credit was 770 and between him and his wife they made of 200K a year. Sounded like the dream tenant. When the came to look at the home, which they loved, the sent the application back without the s.s.#. The would give us this when they got their lease signed. With a note saying not to contact their landlord until the lease was signed. Plus many blanks from the E-Zlandlord form was not filled out. I said that the S.S.# was required. He was concerned about identify theft. Ended up with a NO DEAL. What are the chances, that since he was an engineer, or so he said, that he over thought the S.S.# thing and I lost a great tenant because he was over cautious?

Most EVERY landlord.property manager and real estate agent will NOT rent to a tenant without a background check. People talk a BIG game. If this same guy were to apply for a mortgage, car loan or credit card, he would have to give someone his SS#. It sounds VERY fishy to me. I think it may be a blessing in disguise that you did not get him as a tenant.

Posted by Denise S, PA on Wednesday, May 13, 2009