Why is it a clean cut single guy cannot rent a half decent place in the GTA if they haven't been plugged into the whole financial/credit/exercise wheel for gerbils stress session for the past, well, since 18 months before they were conceived sort of thing? Have a friend- Hell of a great guy, single, motivated, not a drinker, not a party animal... Anyways, comes to town with a bit of pocket change, wants to get settled for a year minimum, work a bit, see if his ideas inspire any interest. Rent? Cash money, first of the month, every month, guaranteed, but will anyone meet him halfway? 
   I guess the underlying thing I'm trying to get at here is the fact that it's annoying and depressing to have to accept that a persons' worth is not judged on the basis of firsthand interaction with the person but on the basis of how well and deeply the person has become part of the big game- The system- The machine. And that if the person in question ever missed a cell phone bill  or a cable bill or returned a Blockbuster DVD a day late,  they aren't fit to have a place to live. Or if the person doesn't have a major charge card. And doesn't believe in driving. Does that person exist? Apparently, yes, and I can say that because I know the guy personally. 
   Truly, as a landlord/property owner/investor/speculator you have to look out for your interests, of course, but my simple brain can't reconcile the goal (turning a buck) being set on pause, so that nothing is being generated, but you're still paying out on the property, yet in walks a normal person with respect, morals, cash and desire, and you send them away. 
   Just doesn't make sense to me.
   So, comment if you want, I know it's a complex thing that could be discussed and argued and beat to death, but I'm going at this from a neutral standpoint. I just don't GET IT! How many simply incredible tenants can't pass the Equifax check so get shuffled out the door without even a discussion of alternate terms? Yes, you'll still have those applicants who your belly just says 'No way no how, not on my watch', and they will still be weeded out of the selection process based solely on your impressions of said party, yet you won't trust those same instincts to say "Okay, give me first and last, here's your receipt and your keys, see you on the first of the month." I am seriously confused by the concept that even on your best day, you can apply a double standard to yourself, saying, in effect, "I am well and truly qualified to say an authoritative NO, but am lacking the intelligence and judgement required to actually say YES, I need equifax input or I'll mess up." Seriously?
   If anyone reads this, and has a space they wouldn't be adverse to collecting an income from, please comment, including contact details. At the same time, if you're reading this and ARE one of the people running into this practice, same deal, contact details as well. Maybe if a few people from both target groups get involved, who knows what might transpire?