Roommate with bad credit

Amelia-
I’ve read through your renter blog posting about the roommate with bad credit. This is a tough one. Let my give you advice like I would to my own daughter.
I once heard a story about a rattle snake that asked an Indian to carry it down the mountain. The Indian at first said no way, you’re a rattle snake! The snake then calmed down the Indian by promissing that he wouldn’t bite him, so the Indian agreed and carried the snake down the mountain. When the snake got to the bottom of the hill he turned and bit the Indian. Ouch! Screeched the Indian in shock– you promissed me you wouldn’t bite me. The snake replied– “You knew what I was before you picked me up.”
So what does that have to do with renting? A lot actually. Just as history has proved that the Rattle Snake is a deadly poisenous snake– the credit report pulled on your friend has shown that he too can not be trusted when it comes to financial matters. No matter how much you like this guy– I would stay far away from him. He may be working now, but if he happens to lose his job do you think he will do whatever it takes to make sure his protion is paid? …or would it just be easier for him to walk away and move on?
Credit reports are around to help eliminate risk. And yes, I too have been forgiving to renters that have had questionable credit– but many times I had wished I hadn’t. I have learned over the years that a credit report is a fair reflection on the persons future habits.
After all of that, this is my advice:
1) Put an ad online
2) Interview people as possible roommates
3) Print the Rental Application (free) http://www.rentalprotectionagency.com/rental_forms_download_file_RentalApplication
4) Pull a background check on the roommate you like the best. (RPA provides this service)
5) Rent to a good quality roommate. (Most of the time it is better to not rent with friends.)
I hope that helps. Stay away from your friend with bad credit history- trust me on that!

No you’re not being scammed. Your landlord has right to approve people before they move in. I used to rent with room-mates too, but it seemed like they were always problems. The advice above isn’t too bad. I would also recommend renting to only people with good positive credit.
I just looked at the pricing to run a state background report on your room-mate, it is only $7.95.
(money well spent)

Mmm I don’t know.. I think Scott has a fair perspective, but it is only one perspective. I have bad credit (student loans and some rinky dink stuff).. However what I do have is a solid rental history of paying my rent on time (I was late once in 3 years due to a miscommunication while I was on vacation).. I have never had a rent check bounce.. I have specific reasons why I’m not paying the bills I”m not paying and they have zero to do with “I don’t know how to manage my money”.. it has more to do with I just do lay down and roll over just because someone who got a business tax ID says I owe them money.. ( I have a doctor who is trying to give me the bill for a minor surgery, because *his* staff keeps screwing up the insurance paperwork and I have proof of everything I just said about it)..

I have an attorney and am completely aggressive now about vendors who don’t fulfill on their services and send you a bill.. just like most property owners.

My credit is getting better and throughout all of it I have been a fantastic and reliable roommate /tenant.

all of that having been said, if you don’t want to get into the particulars of someone else’s credit report, then you should only go after roommates who have great credit. And, I know wealthy people who don’t pay their bills but have great credit because they bully people (or have their own or their parents’ lawyer bully people)..

At some point you have to trust your own judgement about those things and you will like make a mistake or two. And you will learn what you learn. What I learned was, have a written agreement. Spell things out as fully and completely as possible. People that are easy to resolve disagreements with are probably a much better barometer of who will be a good roommate in my opinion. People that know how to resolve things in communication generally don’t have an issue keeping a job.

I understand that you don’t want to choose a stranger, and trust me, that is completely understandable. What I suggest that you ask him to ask the help of a company, EZ Lease Rentals that will sign the lease for him. They are a great company, they help people rent even with bad credit so I suggest you check them out.

Scott has a clear perspective but that is not always the case. What if the friend of yours with a bad credit history turns out to be a good tenant? I would suggest to your friend that he can apply at EZ Lease Rentals. The company specializes in issues like bad credit history, divorce, foreclosures, bankruptcy and more.