Yes, but (I’m a landlord too, but am new to it) if a prospective tenant is brave enough to start ignoring a big scary bank, what’s to keep him from ignoring me, a brand-new “small and meek” landlord?
I decided someone who just decides one day to NOT PAY THE MORTGAGE will just as easily decide one day to NOT PAY THE RENT.
So I went with someone else, with just as good a job, but safer and with great credit.
But you’re right; these two were *far* better than the next set of tenants that came behind them in my rankings. What a nightmare some people are. Someone actually wanted to move in with 8 dogs!
Here’s a hint: the ideal tenant is one who always pays 15 days late, including the late fee, and renews his or her lease year after year, including an increase, because they feel they are beating the system. I’ve had several of them, and as a landlord, you gotta’ love em.
One of many counter-intuitive things the books don’t tell you.
Want another?
Check the tenant’s reference with the landlord *previous* to the current landlord.