Applicant has been in contact awhile, very polite, says they are looking for a long term apartment. Brings aunt and uncle with them, guy in his early 20s.

Brought check stubs, has been employed a number of years which is hard to find these days let me tell you. Has security deposit and first months rent.

Legal record is pretty much immaculate. Willing to sign a lease Thursday on the day we set when he's off work.

However.... when the guy and his uncle are checking out the kitchen, aunt comes and tells me that their nephew applying is 'special needs' and that they will handle his money and rent payments. She says he has been living with them and needs his own place. She says, "He won't be any trouble, he'll keep it clean and rent will be paid."

So. He drives, has a valid state license so he passed a drivers test right.... and has a job as a dishwasher, has held that for years and makes enough for the place. His employer confirmed that and said "he's a good kid".

What is his special need?

I'm wondering if I should text the aunt and ask for his diagnosis, how to phrase that and how rude or invasive that would be.

I don't care unless its you know, a phobia of some kind, fits of rage or shouting, pyro, whatever. I don't imagine but what right. Would you just not ask?

JP,

ALWAYS assume you are being tested by a paid Fair Housing tester so tread carefully.

I like to ask the auntie a nice generic question "Is there something I need to know?"

Just be totally aware you are also taking on the Aunt and Uncle as far as management, complaints...

I would also require they sign the lease along with him since they handle his money. That way you have permission to talk with them about him and also to sue for rent if needed.

I LOVE to rent to folks with special needs! They tend to stay longer because they are often shy about moving/talking to new LLs, etc.

And be aware you might need to give him a little extra grace due to anxiety, etc.

RENT ON!

BRAD

With all the trouble you've had with tenants, it sounds like your lucky day.

Sign them up before they go elsewhere.

Try not to assume the worst - be respectful & reasonable & set up a cooperative "work together" relationship with them all. Open your mind to learn about "different " people & you may have the greatest LL/tenant experience yet.

Ask are there any reasonable accommodations that your nephew would require being special needs.

We all have special needs,

(in some form or fashion)

How long has he been living with his aunt an uncle? Are you going to a 3 minute walk thru of his room and where he is living with them?

After reading Paulio's post perhaps you will get some insight like how he keeps his room or note damages that may indicate why he needs his own place. Or an animal that might be an ESA and has not been mentioned yet.

Good thing I am not trying to look for a place to rent.

Rented to a special needs guy. His sister helped him out as far as managing his money. He didn't drive but worked one job close and the other was part time with his sister's job.

All was fine for a few months. Then a neighbor asked me if he was ok. Said he showed up drunk and couldn't get into the apartment. Was yelling and throwing up all over. They helped him into the place.

Couple more months go by and his sister contacts me. He had disappeared for a few months. She was paying his bills. He lost both jobs because he was absent. His money was running out.

Then he came back. He had checked himself into rehab for drinking. Couple months later and he was gone again. This time he blocked his sister from his banking account.

It ended up being a big mess all around. He had a drinking problem that the sister knew about. He had no police contact so nothing to check on there.

Sometimes when you roll the dice you get what you get.

Special needs can be hard to define, particularly when behavior crosses the line into chronic conflict. Consider the hypothetical landlord who has a years-long, pervasive pattern of seeing themselves as the victimized hero in every dispute. They constantly complain about systemic corruption, believing every entity—local government, partners, and judges—is actively "out to get them." This behavior aligns with Savior Complex or Main Character Syndrome, where they must always be the central figure fighting against overwhelming odds.

The core question is this: if this pervasive worldview is rooted in an underlying, diagnosable psychological condition (like a severe personality disorder or chronic paranoia), could this effectively qualify as a "special need" or disability requiring accommodation? In legal and housing contexts, a true special need requires an official DSM-5 diagnosis and must substantially limit a major life activity. While the behavior (Hero Complex) isn't the diagnosis, the underlying cause might be.

I would ask Aunt to co-sign and rent it with or wo the co-signer.

Paulio: Did he/they pay for the damages? If yes, well - not great, but could sure be worse.

Not much different (better) than how some other tenants behave, who don't pay, and they have no "excuse".

JMO

You could be describing my son. Polite, hard-working, but with an intellectual disability that makes it hard for him to perform work at a higher level than washing dishes. He has a driver's license and can drive, but can't add 7 + 3 without using his fingers.

Another downhill skiing phrase:

>>

Another downhill skiing phrase:

No falls, no balls --198.168.xx.xxx

<<<

lol

too funny

Signed with the Special Needs guy.

I had a long talk with him signing the lease. I like him.

I think its going to work out.

You can all watch from a safe distance lol

Cool for you.

Maybe this will work out.

Who knows, maybe he has friends from a group or something and this can start to be your niche market.