This hasn’t been an issue too much in the past. However it’s starting to happen more often. I’m getting couples that claim being married, but no name change. I know the name change isn’t always done in today’s clown world America, but for screening purposes how do you handle this? What if husbands credit is good, but homemaker wife’s credit is trashed. Married, but no name change. As a married couple, 2 is as 1 or at least it should be, correct? So do you ask for some sort of proof? Or just deny outright? --24.152.xxx.xx

All would qualify to rent from me. --173.28.xx.xxx

I wouldn’t deny them for the no name change. Tradition has been wrong before. --174.212.xxx.xx

I understand what you’re saying, but I think the rules are a little different if they’re married. If she’s not contributing credit or $ and he qualifies, don’t they both qualify? Speaking from a fair housing point. --24.152.xxx.xx

Stealth, I’m not entirely sure I understand your comment. I’m not looking to deny due to no name change. --24.152.xxx.xx

If combined they qualify I don't see the problem, married or not. Fair housing is something I need more training in but I thought you couldn't deny based on if they are married or not. I don't think it matters either way. If she has 20 evictions and gets married she still has 20 evictions. --107.147.xx.xx

Zero, your last sentence is basically what I’m looking for. I’m not looking to deny on being married or not. I’m looking for clarity as to whether the great app on husband negates the crappy app on the wife. Am I legally required to ignore a wife’s bad app if married and if no name change, how do we prove marriage? --24.152.xxx.xx

Ignoring the wife's bad credit/rental history would be no different than ignoring her being a drug trafficker IMO. --68.1.xxx.xxx

Name or no name they are applying together and in my book must qualify together. Marriage does not require you to not look at the spouse w the poor credit. Now in NY if you deny based on credit you have to tell them that and share the information you sourced. --172.59.xxx.xxx

I don't know of any laws that you have to "ignore" the other applicant (if they are married). --69.201.xx.xxx

I see bad credit differently than no credit. --68.229.xxx.xxx

Jonny, I think there is different fair housing criteria for a married couple vs shack up. DJ, I don’t know if you can screen a married couple as roommates. I understand what you’re saying though and I agree they should be. --24.152.xxx.xx

For me, the woman using her maiden name isn’t a deal killer, but I think it more likely that a separation will occur, leaving me with an individual unable or unwilling to pay. --149.76.xxx.x

Considering the divorce rates, I'm not sure why anyone gets married. Either way, I don't see how it really matters when screening. --76.129.xxx.xx

--107.147.xx.xx

Same with income. It's combined and either it meets the threshold or not. --65.188.xxx.xxx

Have all adults fill out rental applications where run a thorough credit check on both applicants to avoid another trashed out rental unit and rent arrears. What will happen the person with good credit moves out. So in the end married or not is not a concern. Seen many times where my girl friend will not fill out a rental application where they stay holed up for a very long time. --207.236.xxx.xxx

In reality the relationship does not matter when screening. Look at them as roommates if you like. In my case, for income verification and credit checks I look at the high earner credit first and then work my way down. If the couples haven't cohabitated for at least a year then I only count the highest earner. For everything other than income, the negatives count on both. That is, evictions, criminal records, and the like are strikes no matter which applicant it is. --209.205.xxx.xx

From the Landlord perspective stability is the desire. Traditional Marriage was a stabilizing force in civilization. A new age marriage is not. --149.76.xxx.x

Certainly is a perceived concept. Nothing is certain but it would seem to bring some unity in financials. I do have the same thoughts when screening married vs unmarried couples --172.59.xxx.xxx

I'm 63, DH is 56. This is his 2nd marriage and my third. I'm no womens libber but for me to change my last name to his would be a giant upheaval as EVERYTHING is in my name (due to his ex wife's avarice) --172.56.xx.xxx

I should add that we have "been together" for almost 20 yrs now and officialy married for 3 yrs. --172.56.xx.xxx

Maple, we are talking about prospective renters as a group. Am I in error to view the No name change / separate banking marriage as an indication of a less stable arrangement than the traditional? --149.76.xxx.x

Sisco, I know we are talking about renters, however a VERY large percentage of step families keep separate accounts due to something called "parenting by guilt" or "Disneyland Dad/Mom Syndrome." I've had young marrieds skip out and get divorced then file banruptcy. Legally married MAY indicate a more serious and fiscally responsible couple but not always. Your mileage may vary in today's lax divorce laws. --172.58.xx.xxx

I had a married couple rent a large 3 bedroom apartment with two kids and 1 parent. As it turns out, the couple was not married. The wife and parent were in a same sex relationship, and the husband was not related to his kids, one male and the other female. They were his sex slaves. Once reported, I was fined.Why? This is West Hollywood, CA, where anything goes. --47.155.xx.x

The weather must be really great in CA, because I'm not too sure anything else is. --76.129.xxx.xx

I've gotten burned a couple times with the "fiance'" nonsense. They break up, neither one can afford the place on their own and I'm stuck with a tenant who can't afford the rent. My solution is I rent to ONE person who is qualified, the other person is listed as being allowed to live there ONLY so long as the renter is there. If the renter moves out, so must the other party. --35.132.xxx.xx

I use an average credit score. For class C SFH, 620-650 depending on how much money I have into the project --24.101.xxx.xxx

Have changed so many locks because of the back and forth. --107.147.xx.xx

One thing I don't do is offer a discount on my screening if the couple is married. The way I see it, we are not allowed to discriminate using familiar status, so the inverse should also hold true. You shouldn't get any breaks if you are married. --24.101.xxx.xxx

I am still married and she doesn't give me any breaks. --107.147.xx.xx

My daughter is married and kept her original last name. Same for my sister, two sisters-in-law, and several of my best friends. It's a cultural trend and doesn't mean they are less responsible than people who changed their names. --98.210.xx.xxx

CDM, that sounds full California mode there. --24.152.xxx.xx

Never had emails in my actual name. Those with name changes change emails as well. Now my daughter has a collection of them. When I got married emails were not a thing. My wife took my last name but mainly because that was just the norm. --107.147.xx.xx

Traditions change. --76.129.xxx.xx

On a lighter note on this subject, I used to have an elderly widow who lived in one of my units. When a new couple moved in she would always ask me, "Now, that new couple that just moved in, are they married or just doing light housekeeping?". Always got a laugh out of that one. --35.132.xxx.xx