Dear Universe, I really need this one to 'take'.

I have had quite a few tenants who wanted my vacant house but they were unable to complete the rental application process. I am becoming frustrated beyond belief. The hub showed the place again yesterday. By the time he called to run these folks by me (yes, I turn down people who are obviously unreliable), I had devolved into a bitter cynic. I hope I was wrong in having that attitude. I did end up approving them and they signed a lease and paid a small deposit to hold the place until the rent is due right before they move in. I still could not shake the cynicism until the husband went back to show the place to their adult child who lives with them and then came back and told me the story. The adult daughter is expecting and the house the three of them live in is horribly managed by the landlord and thus these clean and decent people live in a terrible wreck with leaks, toxic mold, an A/C unit which fell through the ceiling... it doesn't sound like any place I would want to bring an infant, either. The husband said the daughter burst into tears of happiness and relief when she saw our house. Yes, it IS a solid house where things are clean and maintained and fit for newborn humans. The landlord is not out to lunch and not at all interested in letting the place fall apart.

I felt like crying myself when the husband told me that they read the entire lease before signing it. Most tenants these days are just not serious and responsible enough to do that. I was a bit horrified that these people have been renting all of their lives and have NEVER seen the landlord's disclosures that are required by law. The man told my husband that he had heard of the disclosures, but figured they were just an urban legend. What's not to like about a wry sense of humor, eh? I want these people to work out. I want to welcome them and their soon-to-be-born baby to their new home where they will actually get something more than just an unkempt roof in exchange for their valuable rent payment. I'm almost afraid to hope that we finally have good people for our pretty little house. I want this to work. For us and for them. I just need a freakin' break here. These people deserve a comfortable home and we deserve to collect the rent because we're consistent about running a nice place instead of just taking money from people. I hope nothing happens to throw a wrench in the works this time. And just between us? I would never refuse someone on the basis of not having children, but I am partial to children. I like knowing that children live in places where the landlord won't let the building that shelters them become squalid.