This Landlord's Bizarre 20-Point Tenant Questionnaire Has Everyone Crying And Laughing

Would you give out your tax information to rent an apartment? One landlord was this close to asking for it.

Jesse

• Published in News
• December 7, 2024

The rental market is a place where landlords wield their power like medieval kings. This often turns prospective tenants into contestants on the world’s most brutal quiz show. However, ever so often, a landlord comes along who takes the term “red flags” to an entirely new level. 

Imagine this: you’ve found a listing that seems promising, and the rent is within your budget. But then you dive into the application form, and your mouth drops to the floor—such was the case of one netizen whose only crime was searching for a roof over their head. 

Outrageous doesn’t even begin to describe how atrocious the details of the questionnaire turned out to be. They went on to share the masterpiece on X, and it sparked a tidal wave of laughter, outrage, and razor-sharp sarcasm in the comments.

This form wasn’t your average “name, employment history, and references” questionnaire. Oh no, this landlord seemed to think they were hiring CIA operatives or screening for admission to a top-secret government program. 

The “application form” featured 20 questions (plus sub-questions!) that are so over the top, they seem designed more for screening spies than tenants. And just when you think it couldn’t get any funnier, commenters on X (formerly Twitter) have chimed in, sarcastically suggesting even more invasive questions. 

What’s next, your childhood diary?

“Are we renting an apartment or applying for national security clearance?” one commenter joked. Another wondered if the landlord moonlighted as a spy, needing all this information for reasons far beyond renting out a one-bedroom flat.

The key to your new apartment or the start of a treasure hunt? Only your landlord knows.

What’s your mother’s maiden name? First pet’s name? Bank account PIN? All fair game, apparently. It’s no surprise that many believe this landlord’s form crosses not just ethical lines but legal ones, too. Commenters were quick to point out the glaring red flags of identity theft.

You can bet the boxes are lighter than the paperwork it took to get here.

Ironically, some users joked that the landlord might also demand a renter's life story or their great-grandmother’s favorite recipe—just in case. But behind the humor lies a troubling truth: in a “seller’s market,” desperate renters may feel pressured to comply with these invasive demands simply to secure shelter. 

Commenters on X hilariously suggest the landlord didn’t go far enough with their demands. Why not turn it into a full-blown interrogation?

“Previous addresses over the past 10 years”

“Copy of bank statements”

“All social media accounts”

Others speculated that the form might not even be real, but instead a cruel joke or scam designed to prey on vulnerable people. But honestly, given the lengths some landlords go to in vetting tenants, can you blame anyone for thinking it might be true?

“List your car type, drinking habits, tax ID—oh, and don’t forget to add a DNA swab. Thanks!”

“These people want to know far too much about a person.”

This story has struck a chord, sparking heated discussions about renter rights and landlord ethics. Whether it’s real or exaggerated, it highlights a growing issue in today’s competitive rental market: the fine line between caution and exploitation.

So, dear readers, have you ever faced a landlord who wanted to know everything except your blood type? Share your wildest stories in the comments—we promise we won’t ask for your tax records first!

Jesse