Guy is in a hellfire hurry to rent an apartment, has messaged me 3 times.

Says he owns a business and makes good money, just got divorced from his wife and getting kicked out, needs a place by Friday.

Says he can pay several months rent upfront, and needs a place for about a year.

I'm wondering what other landlords think of this scenario. I typically don't like it when someone is in a hurry, but wondered if anyone has signen on to something like this before, and how it turned out.

Says he's never rented before, but has owned a house. Will make sure on his mortgage payments before any offer of course.

This type is usually single for a crazy- short period, and then hops into a new relationship very fast. He usually moves into his new girlfriend's house as quickly as possible. If you're looking for a guy to get you through the winter, perhaps. But this kind of guy (in my area) tends to not be very stable or dependable. Mine have usually been in that 4-6 month period at best. At worst, they don't even make it in, because they've found a new woman to take them in in that 1-2-3 weeks we're in conversation about upcoming vacancies.

Frame it as "flexibility for his situation", since so much is up in the air for him right now. I don't expect him to beg for a longer initial term, and you know he's not likely to be a long-time tenant anyways. So look at your local cycles and choose a time just before you know demand will increase.

I operate on the principle that a lack of planning or whatever on your part does not create an emergency on my part. Why is he rushing? Can he get not get an Airbnb or a hotel room for a short period of time particularly if he's making "good money"? Making good money pretty much insures he won't be homeless. Situation is suspect IMO.

I took someone like that 4 years ago.

He was going to live alone and did not want any more women in his life!

I think he tried that approach for a couple weeks.

Then, his new girlfriend moved in a couple months later.

The ex wife comes over occasionally for ??? when the girlfriend is working.

The place is outfitted like a bachelor pad for a 50 year old guy.

Rent is paid on time every month.

Nice guy. Girlfriend is nice. Ex wife is nice.

He helps out the neighbors whenever there is a problem.

I find that if someone can't frame why they are calling on a place within the first 30 seconds, it is tougher for me to give someone a nod.

I have rented to recent divorcees. Some get back together. Some move on. Couple times they were moving into my place before they filed I think.

Having a house right before they move into an apartment is a shock to some people. Watch for signs of entitlement.

Last divorced guy I took in was a driver for UPS. Made good money, bragged about how great his old house was. They were working thru the divorce. He stayed on a friends couch for just shy of two years.

Then the divorce finalized and he asked to move a lady friend in. She had gone thru a divorce and was going to take an apartment of mine a couple months before but stayed with a friend instead.

Turns out they both worked at the same depot.

Please take control of the timing of the situation to your own style and liking. Make him slow down as GKARL noted. Please do not change your screening process to accommodate his agenda. Aldo's rule applies, "The landlord is in charge." A corollary from Jeffrey notes that a prime characteristic of an ideal tenant is cooperation.