Here is one of the latest responses to a Zillow ad for an empty rental property that we have. There were so many reasons that I would not take this prospective tenant. The easiest way for me since we don't accept vouchers was to respond with that reason and leave all of the other reasons alone.

Here was their response to my pre-qualification questions when they responded to my Zillow ad:

Initially there will be 2 adults,(my wife & I) 1 teen age girl,(our

granddaughter). I have also been approved medically for a live-in aid that may be added to the household at a later date.

There are NO smokers or Vapers.

We have 2 handicap service dogs. Both are small, a chihuahua and a min pin. We also have a Ridgeback mix that is currently in training to serve as a service dog but is not yet certified. He may or may not be coming with us.He may be going to our son’s home.

I am a pastor. I am also disabled and the main source of income is SSI. My teenage granddaughter lives with us and she gets SSI survivor benefits due to when her mother, our daughter-in-law passed away.

We also have a Housing Choice Voucher that pays for a 4 bedroom home. This pays regularly on a monthly basis. We pay a percentage of our income toward the rent cost. We have NEVER been late or not paid our rent. Home for my family is a priority.

By way of un-verifiable income, as a pastor I serve as chaplain to multiple area funeral homes where I get cash gifts as an honorarium when I serve a family at need.

Thank you.

Gene,

Just reading this wore me out!

A lot of his red flags are protected. There are places in this country where the housing voucher and the source of income are also protected and he would be pretty much armor plated.

Those service dogs are protected, the child is protected, the live-in medical help is protected, and I'm pretty sure you can not reject based upon the applicant's religion.

Just pointing this out that landlords should be extra careful about what reason they use to reject.

Oregon Woodsmoke [ID], the reason I choose to not accept vouchers is that I don't want the government in my business to the point that they are paying me. As many landlords have found out when they accepted some of the Covid monies for landlords/tenants, then they are restricted in what they can do to remove those tenants.

I have one house that will be required to take vouchers, but it is priced high enough that few if any voucher holders will be able to afford it. However, if it happens that I have to do so, I will be looking to sell the house and invest in a different location or in a different investment.

The easiest way is sometimes to do nothing. Any time I get a "story" from a Zillow tire-kicker, I just hit Delete. I think back to the old days when I answered the phone and listened to "stories" like that ramble on for 20 minutes before I'd finally cut them off mid-sentence and say something like, "I'm sorry but this probably isn't going to work...." Then they'd call me rude.

It's about then my policy changed to all calls go to voicemail, and they follow my instructions or that's the end of the road for said person.

If I am not mistaken, there are no certifications for service animals?