Reported are the acceptance and eviction criteria used by 34 residential managers and their general perceptions of older people as desirable tenants. Independence is a central issue which managers assess in terms of administrative problems. The majority (82%) of managers supported frail elderly tenants with a variety of informal services, but when tenants became too impaired managers urged residential change. Community living is jeopardized by uncommon health conditions. Most evictions are for behavioral or psychiatric problems which managers tolerate less well than physical health conditions.