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Question for you - I have to decline an application that wanted to rent my place.
Bottom line - the one picked has excellent credit (they sent a current credit with their application).
Number 2 - not as good credit.
So my question is - I want to write an email just telling them that the unit has been rented and thanks and all that. I want to keep it very short. I don't need more explanation, right? I have a feeling Number 2 won't go quietly.
I was a landlord for many years, and never once felt the need to tell an applicant that their application was "declined". If you already told them you would notify them either way, just do it and say "sorry but the unit has been leased". If not, don't bother - they will figure it out.
dont reply to the one you dont want .. a simple .. sorry its been rented is enough you do not owe them a reason..
I used to get folks who would demand a reason and I would smile and say .. credit scores .. they know that their scores arent up to snuff so thats all it should take
HOWEVER
I see the other couple SENT you a copy of their report? ummm better you run one yourself .. just to be on the safe side
Many LLs on CD have mentioned a CR supplied by the applicant could be faked and is not safe, unless they've given you access to log in online (which frankly is stupid IMO of the applicant to do.)
The other people were upfront about their credit and asked me not to run it until I was sure I wanted them . I told them I wouldn't but I'm thinking I have to in order to have a legitimate reason not to pick them.
The other people were upfront about their credit and asked me not to run it until I was sure I wanted them . I told them I wouldn't but I'm thinking I have to in order to have a legitimate reason not to pick them.
Your 'legitimate' reason is you decided the other applicant was the better choice.(not that you have to tell them that)
You can just let them know you rented it to someone else first and so did not have to run their report.
Yes, I will write a short email saying that the place has been rented and thank you.
They know that they are one of the 2 people that it boils down to - blame my blabbermouth mother-in-law that was supposed to stay in the car when I was showing them the place - ugh!
You are not legally bound by what your mother-in-law says, unless she is your representative.
I just say "I'm sorry, but I will not be able to rent to you. I wish you the best of luck with finding a place". The only time you must give them a reason is when you reject for the credit report, and you didn't run a credit report.
If they persist, I tell them that they didn't meet my written criteria that I apply to all applicants. You do have a written criteria, don't you? Save yourself some grief and have it available for applicants to look at before they apply.
It's not a social call. Don't stay on the phone. Tell them they aren't accepted and get off the phone. You don't sit there waiting for their response and talking until they seem to be satisfied.
I try not to put anything in writing with applicant and if you must put anything in writing, be extremely careful, because it might appear in court some day. If I end up in court, I would prefer that the rental agreement be the only thing in writing to be presented.
Last edited by oregonwoodsmoke; 02-25-2013 at 11:07 AM..
Another thing. Don't promise to not run credit reports. If they don't want theirs run, then tell them that you can not process their application without running the credit report.
I will tell them that I will run the credit nearly last, but that by that time I will have a couple of hours into their screening so there won't be a refund. I always run the credit report near the end because it costs me money. If it is clear I am going to reject, I don't pay to run it.
I am not done once the credit report is run. I still have to check prior addresses on their credit report against the prior addresses that applicant gave me and might have some more landlords to locate and talk to. So the credit report is not the very last thing to do.
Just because your blabbermouth MIL said it was down to 2 people...it doesnt mean you must pick between those 2 people. You might decide neither pass your criteria and then you wait for someone else.
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