Is this allowable as a landlord?

[Anonymous]

According to a Maryland court record search, a potential tenant has had multiple tax liens placed on them over the past decade. Can I use this information to reject that applicant? I’m in MoCo.

[Anonymous]

I'll allow it

[Anonymous]

Don’t tell someone why you rejected their application just ghost them. It’s safer from a legal perspective

[Anonymous]

I think so. You can have a title agency turn you down based on this., in purchasing real estate. Not as much “turn you down” as give you a window to resolve it. Not resolved? Ok, mortgage is not going to be approved

I would think this is something you want to avoid as a landlord. Reasonable and probably legal.

[Anonymous]

It's not that expensive to have a lawyer on retainer. I think every landlord should.

[Anonymous]

Why do you have to tell them? Is that the only application and they are waiting for an answer?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Why do you have to tell them? Is that the only application and they are waiting for an answer?

They are the only applicant right now. Not sure if ghosting them will work because I use a somewhat expensive screening service that charges each applicant $55. And since there are no other applicants right now, they will see that the property still remains on the market.

As an aside, this is a kind of expensive property ($3,500/month for a two-bedroom apartment), so I’m just surprised that people at this level wouldn’t pay their taxes.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I think so. You can have a title agency turn you down based on this., in purchasing real estate. Not as much “turn you down” as give you a window to resolve it. Not resolved? Ok, mortgage is not going to be approved

I would think this is something you want to avoid as a landlord. Reasonable and probably legal.

An owner could have their property seized for taxes owed. A tenant is not going to have the LL’s property seized.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Why do you have to tell them? Is that the only application and they are waiting for an answer?

They are the only applicant right now. Not sure if ghosting them will work because I use a somewhat expensive screening service that charges each applicant $55. And since there are no other applicants right now, they will see that the property still remains on the market.

As an aside, this is a kind of expensive property ($3,500/month for a two-bedroom apartment), so I’m just surprised that people at this level wouldn’t pay their taxes.

You are going to be disappointed if you think that any price point acts as a screen against people who are irresponsible or dishonest.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Why do you have to tell them? Is that the only application and they are waiting for an answer?

They are the only applicant right now. Not sure if ghosting them will work because I use a somewhat expensive screening service that charges each applicant $55. And since there are no other applicants right now, they will see that the property still remains on the market.

As an aside, this is a kind of expensive property ($3,500/month for a two-bedroom apartment), so I’m just surprised that people at this level wouldn’t pay their taxes.

You are going to be disappointed if you think that any price point acts as a screen against people who are irresponsible or dishonest.

+1

Live in a condo building, where a renter got mad about "noise violations". So they plugged all the drains, turned on the faucets and left the building. Did well over $500K in damages to that unit and surrounding units. Turns out the renter was a Doctor, had no issues in their background check, etc. What many would consider an "ideal rental candidate".

Reason number 1039 why I never want to be a landlord

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Why do you have to tell them? Is that the only application and they are waiting for an answer?

They are the only applicant right now. Not sure if ghosting them will work because I use a somewhat expensive screening service that charges each applicant $55. And since there are no other applicants right now, they will see that the property still remains on the market.

As an aside, this is a kind of expensive property ($3,500/month for a two-bedroom apartment), so I’m just surprised that people at this level wouldn’t pay their taxes.

They don't know that. You're overthinking this. Just don't paper trail yourself on your reasoning.

As long as you don't say anything at all, there is not much they can do. For instance, if your apartment stays advertised for a while: For all they know you selected a tenant, but then that fell through, then you selected another, and that fell through. All from this long list of good applicants that you had. You are imagining they have parity of knowledge with you, but they don't know anything unless you tell them.

[Anonymous]

Goes directly to credit-worthiness.

[Anonymous]

What is the applicant's credit score ?

[Anonymous]

This is my favorite DCUM forum, I always learn so much practical wisdom here.

[Anonymous]

Based on published MoCo statutes that I found online, you seem to be in the clear to do this:

"Chapter 27 of the Montgomery County Code prohibits discrimination based on race, color, national origin, religion, sex, marital status, physical or mental disability, presence of children, ancestry, source of income, sexual orientation, or age."

Montgomery County landlord-tenant laws do *not* prohibit "a commercially reasonable evaluation of the stability, security, and creditworthiness of any source of income."

I would think that second one would cover you, because you're evaluating the stability of their income, and I would posit that having multiple tax liens is a sign that their source of income has not been exactly stable.