Top Excuses from Tenants About Their Bad Credit

The Successful Landlord Blog
Top Excuses from Tenants About Their Bad Credit

19th November 2006

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So, this is kind of an experimental post. Sort of a time-filler, an attempt at amusement while the one empty house is waiting to be rented. These are some of the excuses I’ve heard as to why potential tenants have bad credit.

My wife/girlfriend/boyfriend/husband/roommate caused my bad credit.
My finances never recovered from the last holiday season.
I had to go to jail/court mandated rehab.
My roommate caused me to get evicted.
My family put the utilities in my name and defaulted.
A medical emergency (this I can understand).

If anyone can think of any more, please add them to the comments.

There are currently 5 responses to “Top Excuses from Tenants About Their Bad Credit”

Why not let us know what you think by adding your own comment! Your opinion is as valid as anyone elses, so come on... let us know what you think.

1 On August 24th, 2007, cdahlkvist said:
Here are a few I get from potential tenants:

I never had a credit card from that company.

That wasn’t my fault. I am working on it right now.

That was suppose to be off of there

Why you need credit when welfare pay you for my rent? (I refuse to take section-8 regardless of the law but I hear this one all the time)

And my favorite:

My baby daddy be up here making my rent payment. He required by the state to pay me every month. (because we all know he will be sure to pay)

Of course the last one has some variations. I had a woman try to rent a 2 bedroom house from me. She had 7 kids and each kid had a different father. She insisted that it was legal for 8 people to live in a 2 bedroom home (even if it were I wouldn’t allow it) and she guaranteed her “baby daddies” will make all the rent payments.
2 On August 24th, 2007, Bruce said:
Chris,
Those are great!! Especially, the “baby daddy” one!!

And these people wonder why only slum lords will rent to them.
3 On August 27th, 2007, The Effects Of Posting On Digg.com said:
[...] So, in an effort to egg this guy/girl on, I posted a comment below their’s to the effect of: Yup, and here’s another one, which I linked to this post. [...]
4 On August 3rd, 2010, Karen said:
What a shame. Where is the compassion and understanding. Bad circumstances don’t mean that these are bad people. You should not be making fun of others this way. Shame on you all.
5 On August 3rd, 2010, TheLandlord said:
Karen,
The point of this post is that most of these are NOT good excuses. They are mostly from people who are not responsible generally. As a rule we do not want these people as tenants.