Legally Speaking Q&A Applicant Information

By Mark Zinman | Zona Law

Question: I had an applicant start the application process for a home I know. During the conversation, it came up that we know the same person. Therefore, I asked this person about my tenant, and they told me that the person owes a bunch of money to a previous landlord. The Applicant hasn’t yet given me all of the documents. Can I deny the application based on what I now know?

Answer: No, you cannot rely on unverified statements from third parties, as that could lead to fair housing issues, and you should not deny an applicant before he has even applied. You have to ignore any and all stories you hear that are not part of the application. If the applicant gives you documents to run the application, you must do so. If she fails to give you documentation, then you need to write her and tell her what is missing and that you can’t run her application until that is done.