Would you rent to a drug dealer.

[fastfredracing]

Landlording keeps bringing up situations that I am just not ready for. We showed two houses to probably 20 people over the weekend. By far, the strongest candidate is this guy,who did 3 years for moving a decent quantity of cocaine. He Told us right up front about his past, and said it was behind him. He seemed like a good family man, I was watching him interact with his kids. His shoes were clean, and his car was clean. He welcomed us to come over to his current place, meet his landlord, and even talk with his parole officer. He has been in his current place for 5 years.
He has no credit, as he was a drug dealer for most of his life, his words. . He says he sells jewelry on the internet now, and his wife has a decent job at a local hospital. We met the whole family, wife, and two really cute well behaved kids maybe 2 and 4 ish.
He wants to pay us up front 6 months rent, and split the cost of new carpet.
I like to think I can read people pretty good, and I honestly got a good vibe from this guy. I can see him paying the rent on time, and keeping the place clean, but something deep inside me tells me he still may not be completely on the up and up.
On the other hand, I did have the pleasure of meeting half of Pittsburgh's crackhead population over the weekend. They always sound so nice on the phone.

[Laneco]

Sometimes the guy who walks the straightest line is the one who strayed so far from it to begin with...

You can talk to his current landlord, his parole officer, and you have met in person? Given all that I would rent to him.

I wouldn't give him a lease, but I would rent to him.

angela

[mudman]

Depends if he was going to offer me a discount or samples.

Really though, going straight, no matter how well intentioned the person may be, is hard for some people. Total paradigm shift for some, for others it is just a change of employment...

[Hugh R]

Some people actually do learn from their mistakes. This sounds like one who is trying to get his life together.

[Bill Douglas]

Difficult.

Another thing to factor into the decission. If something goes wrong and you have some kind of dispute wiht the guy...

[nynor]

those are some pretty good bona fides. not sure what else you can ask from the guy. if he screws up, or you find that there are people coming in and out of the place at all hours, he is done. from what you wrote above, he sounds legit to me.

[stomachmonkey]

Sounds like some people I used to run with.

Knowing what I know about them then and now, most I'd rent to, a couple who were not the worst back then I would not.

Sounds like he's worth a chance.

[LakeCleElum]

It's all good until he cooks meth and the Health Dept. red tags you till you strip the house to bare studs and start over with new sheetrock, floor-coverings, etc.....Not a risk I would take.........

[EarlyPorsche]

Just be careful. He is a "salesman." there's got to be a better candidate plus I don't think stiffing you on rent is a vop...

[masraum]

very tough decision.

I'm not a risk taker in a lot of ways, and would probably pass.

It's a shame, I like to think that people can change, and would like to give folks that have changed and are turning their lives around a hand. At the same time, I'm a cynic. It sucks if he is actually turning things around and can't get a break. Of course, he made the decision that put him in the situation that he's in. He's got to pay the price.

[sc_rufctr]

Easy question... NO... End of story. Not negotiable.

It's good that he's trying to get his life back in order and good luck to him... Remember, He's only told you what he wants you to know. Has he been involved in a violent crime while he was selling drugs?

Like all of us he made his choices. Drug dealers are a "special" breed.
Their attitude is. "If I don't sell/provide them with drugs someone else will"

You don't need this guy in your life at any level.

[A930Rocket]

Why does he want to move?

[rnln]

You can talk to his landlord, his parole officer, and come to drop him a visit. That's good enough. Some were bad in the past but are good now, and some sound very good but bad from the in the inside. Just an individual opinion, this guy sounds like a good candidate to me. You are not marrying him.

[legion]

He is either on the up and up or is a very convincing sociopath.

But consider that most sociopaths become con-men or politicians, but I repeat myself.

[nynor]

tough crowd.

[legion]

Yep.

I've done plenty of stupid things. I'm lucky I never got caught, but my life would be very different now if I had been. Honestly, up until I had a good-paying job after college, the risks just weren't great enough to deter the stupid behavior.

[LWJ]

I rented to a guy and his wife on time. Great clean cut people. Good credit. Very normal folks.

I mention a background check and he says "Lets go outside, I gotta tell you something."

He was convicted for armed robbery of a bank! He said he was drinking, gambling, and suicidal. He had nothing to lose.

He did time. He knew what he couldn't do. His wife was as straight as they come.

I rented to him with a large deposit and told him it was to cover the loss of rent if I ever needed to evict him. He was a good tenant.

Larry

PS- now some other folks with clean records? Total bums. But that is another story.

[chocolatelab]

6 months up front-i dont need to hear anything else.

you talked to him, checked his other place and talked to parole officer. i bet if he screws with you the parole officer can drop the hammer on him

[aigel]

I wouldn't - others have summarized the increased risk. Keep looking. Price it well to where you have a pick.

George

[on2wheels52]

+1 on the tough crowd. Is the deal he will always be six months ahead on the rent?
Jim