I just got rid of tenants from hell after almost a year of living in the apartment, I gave them a clean and perfect remodel place everything new they did not only destroyed it there was dog poop everywhere, the backyard was a mess not only dog poop holes too, crayons writings on walls and floors. I am getting the place fix to rent it and my question is, can I put in the ad no children children's no pets? --107.119.xx.xx

Damages can be mitigated by getting previous LL references, searching MI district courts for eviction cases, and getting max security deposit which in MI is 1.5mos --50.4.xxx.x

No, is a partial answer to your question. You cannot discriminate against children. It is a violation of federal law. You can limit the number of people living in your unit based on federal guidelines --107.141.xx.xxx

I haven't seen you post before. I have to say there are dozens if not hundreds of experienced people on this site that will help you improve your processes, welcome aboard. --209.205.xxx.xx

Find a way to get your applicants to email you first. Craig's List does that. Then you can ask questions like "how many people will live here". If they say more than 2 you can move on to the next email. Also "Why are you moving at this time". Also "How will you be paying for the apartment". Then you can come here and post some of the answers you got and I and others will help you with what those answers mean. You don't show the apartment until you email with and then talk to the applicant who sounds good. --108.24.xx.xx

I'm sorry this happened to you, but chalk it up to tuition forProperty Management 101. It won't be wasted if you LEARN from it and move on doing better. --68.229.xxx.xxx

One out of three are problem tenants looking to another eviction all over again where they look for a inexperienced rental housing provider who hands out key without running a credit check on all adult applicants. If they are going to show up then explain if they interested they will be required to bring completely filled out applications along with providing three pieces of photo copied identification along with valid social insurance number. More often then not they never come back with rental applications where only out the loss of a few photocopies. Consider joining a landlords association where google to find near where rentals are located. The cost of membership is paid for over a period of a year. Had someone around 30 years looking for a apartment where handed two rental applications where he said his girl friend would not fill out. It sounds like in movie where the bad people are holed up somewhere namely mothers basement. Six months later he was still holed up there with his girl friend where told was involved if interested in rental unit. It is not discrimination as they have put themselves in that situation. In the province of Ontario vacancy rates are at zero or one per cent on and off where a credit score of seven hundred and above or they walk. This avoids the trashing out story forever. Once ran a thorough credit check then look at history where any rental address comes up then go over then inquire. If they moving every three to six months along with unpaid utilities then let them walk. Unpaid utilities and unpaid rent go hand in hand together. One went far they were going me to human rights where told them fix negative credit reports then reapply where they owe thousands. So in the end would one pass keys through the gates of hell or let those gates stay closed forever. Rental housing providers have a right to screen out problem tenants where there is no discrimination as one observing all the human rights criteria. --216.110.xxx.xxx

I wouldn't put anything in your ad about things you won't accept. If you do, it will only make it harder for you to detect those things because they know they need to lie about them. --108.69.xxx.xxx

I allow pets except the breeds my insurance does not like. But I do not put that in the ad. In the ad it says I allow cats, small dogs, and big dogs. So they are not on alert to lie to me --50.4.xxx.x

--67.209.xxx.xx

Allym is not random. Pre-screening and pre-applications before offering an appointment are not federal crimes. I do agree you can't screen out because of children or ESAs. --216.23.xxx.xx

--67.209.xxx.xx

Tenants can still have children where in most cases children are not a problem. Those tenants who are problems are in a never ending merry go round that keeps turning as they still find rental units that do not run thorough credit checks on all adult applicants. Once the credit score is 700 and above the problem tenants are screened out. There was a town in the province of Ontario tenants trashed every rental unit then moved on as they found rental units where keys were handed out. If utilities are separated out then a lot of them disqualify immediately. Problem tenants avoid looking for rental units that thorough credit checks on all adult applicants as they already know they will not qualify. Damage to rental units or houses can be done by people who do not have any children at all only dogs. --216.110.xxx.xxx

In fact, the word "children" probably should never cross your lips. --76.178.xxx.xxx

If you can't think of a legal reason come back and ask us what would be legal. --76.178.xxx.xxx

Sorry John, but I disagree. There is nothing wrong with choosing a tenant based on the number of residents. You need not initially ask for ages of anyone. You can’t very well be accused of discriminating against children when you haven’t asked if there are any, Better yet just make every adult individually qualify and meet your income requirements. That’s the best approach which gets the highest quality tenant. --75.89.xxx.xxx

One thing you might consider in the future is an "in home visit" prior to approval. Go see where they live now, and look around. This will tell you how clean they are, if you can see or smell animals, and give you a general idea of whether they will take care of your property. --99.92.xxx.xxx

Once you saw something going in a manner that you didn't appreciate, what did you do to change it? --24.101.xxx.xxx

--67.209.xxx.xx

Leave it empty until the right prospect comes along. Just keep saying that you haven't made a decision yet. It's true. --71.213.xxx.xx

Leave it empty until the right prospect comes along. Just keep saying that you haven't made a decision yet. It's true. --71.213.xxx.xx

If you don't want the applicant find a legal reason to reject that doesn't violate fair housing laws. --199.36.xxx.xxx