I am reviewing rental applications right now.

Does it make any difference to you what source an applicant's monthly income comes from?

On one application, income comes a good paying union job.

On another application, the wife has a min.wage job and the husband collects twice her income in disability. They even have an 8th month old baby that is receiving $500.00/month in S.S. benefits!

If your applicants can prove 3X or greater income,...does the source of that income concern you?

Source of income is VERY important to me.

Let's assume the tenant trashes the property and leaves. You sue to collect damages in excess of the deposit. As a general rule, government benefits cannot be garnished.

So in the case of your two applicants, the applicant with the union job can be sued, and you can garnish for damages. But the tenant on disability is free and you're left with the damages. So in your case above I would absolutely take the union applicant, not the couple.

I have been seeing a decent amount of fake check stubs. I always ask for a bank statement now to verify the deposits.

I have been seeing a decent amount of fake check stubs. I always ask for a bank statement now to verify the deposits.

I have rented to union people before and they don't make good long term tenants. They are always looking for something nicer to rent or buy. And many of them are in serious debt too,...many of them making $1,200/week, can't pay the 1st months rent and deposit on the same day.

The other couple seems to be the more stable and would make better long term tenants. They are married with a child and the husband is not faking his disability, it is obvious.

I am digging deeper into each applicants background and credit history. I just wanted to know if source of income had any influence on your decision making.

I had a student apply for one of my rooms. She did not have a job presently. I asked her how she would pay the rent. She said that she had the money in the bank.

I said you know that, but I don't know that. I told her since there was no verifiable income, she would have to pay the full semester up front. She came up the the bank check for the full rental amount and is happily living in the house.

Garnishment in NC isn't an option so isn't a factor. I use any income they report. I have several tenants who work full time but have military disability payments monthly. I also have single mom's who collect child support. We also get a lot of relo's here so we use the offer letter.

So long as they can prove the source of income and it meets our minimum income requirements we are required to consider it. We can reject people for inadequate DTI ratios but not for source of legal income.

If they meet the requirements I place more emphasis on their credit and previous rental verifications.

I have one tenant whose sole source of income is from selling on ebay. He showed me his taxes for 3 years and banks statements...all verified he's making 6 figures a year for sitting in front of his pc all day selling knick knacks.

If one is on disability, but there is also a working person in the home, I'd consider them.

I don't doubt he's working hard if he's making that kind of money it is obviously a full time position.

Roy,

A quick check of the intergoogs does not show INCOME SOURCE as a protected class in AL, but check for local additions to the law.

Me? Gotta be garnishable. Lost gazillions on SSI folks who hit one tiny blip and could never get caught up. They talk a good talk and might be great for years but the day things get tough (her hours get cut, off work for sickness...her min wage job is NOT stable) they know their rights and will laugh at the LL trying to collect back rent or repairs.

Tip: require a legit co-signor for the SSI peeps.

The union guy? Maybe YOUR PLACE is his "looking for better":)

Brad20K,

In defense of min. wage jobs, which a lot of rental applicants here have, these type jobs are EASY to find. If you get fired from the golden arches,...on that same day you can get hired by Burger King or Walmart which is across the street. It really just boils down to a willingness to work and do whatever it takes to support your family.

I look for ability to pay the rent so the disability folks would be the winners here.

Roy,

I see the skill level of some of those folks and mourn for the future of our country.

Local MacD is installing touch pads to self order. Eliminates the need for cashiers. Panera and a taco place already have them.

Roy,

I see the skill level of some of those folks and mourn for the future of our country.

Local MacD is installing touch pads to self order. Eliminates the need for cashiers. Panera and a taco place already have them.

Brad20K,

I do not mourn over the skill level of min. wage workers,...our standard of living can't exist without them. I do mourn about the future of our country though,...it starts at the top with a complete idiot for a President and filters down to a dysfunctional congress.

Roy :)