Anybody else getting bizarre "Post-Pandemic" applicants this time around?

I've had four of these so far. applying for a vacant apartment. They all have first month's rent & deposit ready, and are collecting unemployment. But none of them have jobs!

Two lied putting down old jobs that they had been fired from. I'm like seriously, how do you expect to rent an apartment without any long term income?

One couple showed up, mom & pop and a kid....... the dad walked up and down the place, complaining about everything not being up to snuff.

Then they filled out their applications. They were completely blank, just their names up front, and signatures at the bottom! No work history, no rental history, nothing. Had another one of those today. I've never seen anything like it.

Clearly they're leaving somewhere due to eviction, but their court records show nothing.

One woman who applied two days ago wasn't working at all and wanted a 2 bedroom apartment just for her. She wanted me to give her a lease on a COVID rental grant. I said ma'am that thing is going to run out in 3 months.... we're not leasing you an apartment if you aren't working.

Another guy today, him and his girlfriend applied for the 2BR, and both apps were turned in completely blank. I said, "Do you have a job, any income?"

He says "Oh yeah, I'm self employed. I cut hair."

I said, "Do you have any receipts from clients, proof or documentation of your business?"

He just looked at me like I had lobsters in my ears, and gave nothing of the sort.

Guess "Do you have a job?" is going to have to start being one of my first screening questions.

crazy......

>>>Oh ya. Lots. “currently interviewing” is a common response for income.>>

Yep I got that too. "I've just been offered a job at XXXXX"

You call XXXXXX, and they tell you nothing of the sort.

A couple last week was moving in from Montana, after pressing them I found out neither had jobs, they simply said they would like to come to live off me and then would commence to look for employment.

I said, "Nah." LOL

"I'm self employed. I cut hair."

I'm sorry, tar and feather me as a rcizt if you must.

But this was a big tough-looking black guy.... and the way he looked at me when he told me he was a hairstylist was just hilarious, I just thought, please. LOL......

Also he claimed the apartment was just going to be for him and his girlfriend. But then he (stupidly?) got his girlfriend on the speakerphone to show the place and I heard a mess of kids screaming in the background, as well as his girlfriend calling herself "Momma" to them. As well as a barking dog.

Just two for the apartment, you say?

Please...... lol

Around here "do you have a job" is a discriminatory question as you're not allowed to screen on SOURCE of income!

I do a DQ for any blank fields on the application. Too many N/As is a DQ as well.

I hear you. If you don't now, you should be pre-screening these folks out before they get to see the unit. For me I ask 3 prescreening questions one of which is total monthly income from all applicants.

Duplexer - I don't know where you're located in IL, but in Cook County, one can't discriminate based on source of (legal) income. So yes, they need an income, but it doesn't necessarily have to be a job.

I knew once I mentioned that one of the applicants was black, there would be posts about discrimination galore. I wasn't disappointed lol.

As my 73 year old father likes to say, "I'm still waiting for my white privilege".

Go crazy with that....

>>Funny thing is, I don't have a "job" myself. But, I have plenty of income from my pension, 401K and rentals. Maybe some people wouldn't rent to me without a job. That's ok, I own my home and have plenty of rental properties I could move into if necessary!>>

Nor do I care a blink about them having a job, if they actually have SSI, SSD, or some other form of PERMANENT (not a few months, like a grant, or unemployment) income.

Even better! But of course no, none of these applicants had any of this. They just had unemployment and were looking to latch on to a place before it runs out, then either say three times, "COVID, COVID, COVID!!!" and live free on me Till bankruptcy We Do Part. You get the idea.

Posted on another thread when "it" happened ...

I have a small inn in VT ... when the good govorner refused to extend the eviction moritorium, I got this call at the inn:

"We just found ourselves unexpectedly homeless and need someone to take us in. It's me, my boyfriend, two kids and a family dog. We just need a place to stay for a little while untill we find something permanent"

Apparently a year of free loading wasn't enough.

Indiana's Govnr stopped the extra 4300 per week last month and we saw a flurry of applicants with one week on the job or "starting Monday".

Then a high court said it had to be re-instated because "People had become dependent on it". Apps slowed.

Federal govt said "No more".

I think many people are just now getting jobs because of this and they have virus fatigue - tired of the pandemic and ready to get back to normal.

Good people are still out there, just have to sift thru a bigger pile.

BRAD