Does anyone have any thoughts/experiences they want to relate renting to tenants with Social Security? I may be doing my first.

Older lady with her live in (claiming not to be dependent) son.

I've been told a downside to renting to anyone on SS is you can't garnish wages in any kind of court settlement.... but to date I have never gone there, and think its more hassle than its worth to even attempt it with non-payers. Although its true I have yet to deal with a no-pay squatter.

I assume they can't do any kind of direct deposit, and my assumption also is given its a government organization it will be impassive, rulesy and completely uncooperative when asked. lol.

I just don't want to get surprised with "Oh legally you can't tell a person on Social Security to vacate." etc.

Some people won’t take them because they aren’t garnsihable but I have some long-term very good tenants who’s only income is social security.

The plus side is, a lot of older people are more stable. Their drama years are more likely to be behind them. They're regular in their habits, and if you don't move their cheese, they'll be content for a long time.

The minus side is, they're on a fixed income. If drama does hit-- it's very difficult for them to adjust.

It sounds like you're already aware of the worst risk: it is shielded income.

There is no state that I know of that allows tenants not to pay rent and stay, but an "expert" tenant can delay evictions for months if they know the system and how to appeal.

I only take garnisheable income, but if you want to do this, be sure to follow razorback_tim's advice and be diligent on all other areas. If they have excellent credit, excellent land lord references, and no trouble with the law, they could be good, long-term tenants.

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Be careful she's not looking to move her son in then bail out on you. That's a common issue we've heard here time and again: the good party gets in, moves someone else in, then leaves.

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Well that's certainly something to worry about. If they both sign the lease as co-tenants, what can be done?

She looks great, she has SSN and a part time job. He isn't working, but just got a new job starting Monday at Taco Gringo (confirmed). Provided, he actually goes in.

Sure would be a rental bomb to have an unemployed deadbeat son dropped on our porch lol

I switched my apts to senior 62 plus a few years before selling. Most of my more recent tenants were mid 70's plus. Seldom had a problem with collecting the rent.

But with older folks you need to be sure they qualify. Sadly out here many elderly only get around $800-1,200 which often isn't even 2x rent. Just ensure they have adequate stable income AND FULL medicaid or a senior HMO health ins. Or medical bills will wipe them out.