As a landlord, you are responsible for selecting the best possible tenant for your property. Tenant screening is the process of verifying a potential tenant’s information so that you can make an informed decision about whether to accept them as a tenant.
In this blog post, we will discuss the steps you should take when conducting tenant screenings and the information you should be looking for, as well as some red flags and how a property manager can improve this process.
Conducting the Screening Process
Tenant screening is an important step in the rental process and should be done thoroughly and carefully. Here are the steps you should take when conducting a tenant screening:
- Gather information. Collect the tenant’s contact information, rental history, employment history, references, and income information.
- Verify the information. Verify the tenant’s contact information, rental history, employment history, and references.
- Conduct a credit check. A credit check is a good way to get an overall picture of the tenant’s financial history.
- Run a background check. A background check can reveal any criminal convictions or other issues that could impact the tenant’s ability to meet their rental obligations.
- Discuss the results. After you have collected and verified the tenant’s information, discuss the results with the tenant and make an informed decision about whether to accept them as a tenant.
What to Look For
When you are conducting a tenant screening, there are certain pieces of information that you should be looking for:
Contact Information
The first step in the tenant screening process is to collect the tenant’s contact information. This includes the tenant’s name, address, phone number, and email address. Make sure that the contact information provided is up-to-date and accurate.
Rental History
The next step is to verify the tenant’s rental history. Ask the tenant for the contact information of their previous landlords and contact them to ask about the tenant’s rental history. Ask about their payment history, the condition of the property when they moved out, and any other relevant information.
Employment History
Verify the tenant’s employment history by asking for pay stubs or other proof of income. According to this Oahu property management company this will help you determine if the tenant has a steady source of income and can afford the rent.
References
Request references from the tenant, such as friends or family members who can vouch for the tenant’s character. Contact the references to get an idea of how the tenant interacts with others and if they are reliable.
Credit Check
A credit check is a good way to get an overall picture of the tenant’s financial history. A credit check will show if the tenant has any outstanding debts, if they have any unpaid bills, or if they have any late payments.
Background Check
A background check can reveal any criminal convictions or other issues that could impact the tenant’s ability to meet their rental obligations. Make sure to check the tenant’s criminal history to ensure that they do not have any convictions that could prevent them from being a responsible tenant.
Red Flags to Look for in Tenants
Now that we’ve seen what to look for let us mention some other things you should watch out for that may give hints the tenant will create trouble. There are several key red flags to take note of, including:
- Unsatisfactory credit score or rental history
- Inability to provide proof of income
- Providing false information
- Unclear references
- Unwillingness to sign a lease or provide a security deposit
- Unreasonable requests or demands
We also recommend you to note that a tenant's behavior during the screening process can also be a red flag. For example, if a tenant is unresponsive or overly aggressive during the screening process, they may be difficult to work with in the future.
Taking the necessary precautions can help ensure that you find a quality tenant who is willing to abide by the terms of the lease and maintain a good relationship with the landlord.
Conclusion
Tenant screening is an essential step in the rental process and should be done thoroughly and carefully. When conducting a tenant screening, make sure to gather and verify the tenant’s relevant information that will help you see you’re selecting a good fit.
How can a property manager help
By having a property manager do the tenant screening, the landlord can be sure that the process is done in a professional manner, with all relevant information taken into account. Property managers are experienced in the tenant screening process, so they are better able to accurately assess the potential tenants and select the ones that are most suitable for the rental property.
Property managers also have access to many resources that can help them to properly evaluate potential tenants. This includes access to credit reports, criminal background reports, and other important tenant screening tools. This allows the property manager to make more informed decisions when selecting tenants, which can help to reduce the landlord's risk of potential legal complications, such as tenant evictions or tenant disputes.
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