31-Mar-2008 7:15 AM -- JJ
I am currently renovating a 3-family home in Haverhill and am starting the process of interviewing potential tenants. I have one potential tenant who comes as a recommendation, so I wanted to try to give him the benefit of the doubt. Unfortunately, when he filled out his application, I found out that he is laid off from his job due to disability. He currently collects unemployment and disability benefits that would be enough to afford my asking rent. My dilema is: am I legally able to find out how long he is eligible for these benefits? I don't want to have him sign a lease, and discover that his benefits run out six months from now.
Boston Attorney
1 post
4-Apr-2008
3:18 PM 
You may just want to ask him how he intends to pay the rent when/if his disability or unemployment benefits are terminated. He may not be your ideal tenant, but only you can determine whether the risk of nonpayment is outweighed by the benefit of getting the apartment rented as soon as possible.
If you would like, you can execute the written month-to-month residential lease agreement. That way either of you are free to terminate the lease so long as sufficient notice is given. Please feel free to give me a call. I represent landlords, and having an attorney on your side who knows you and the property can help make your investment perform better. Chris Vaughn-Martel, Esq.