Skip to content

Basic Property Management

Property management made easy

Menu
  • Home
  • Residential
  • Commercial
  • Landlords
  • Tenants
  • Software
  • Accounting
  • Investors
  • Insurance
Menu
tips for screening tenants

Ten Essential Tips for Screening Tenants

Posted on December 15, 2022

As a landlord or property manager, you know that tenant screening is an essential part of managing a rental property. Choosing the right tenant can be the difference between a successful tenancy and a nightmare. To help you out, here’s a list of ten essential tips for screening tenants.

1. Collect an Application Fee

An application fee gives potential tenants an incentive to provide accurate information on their application because they know they will lose money if they don’t. It also helps cover your costs associated with running background checks and other screening activities.

2. Run Accurate Background Checks

Conduct thorough background checks on all potential tenants to ensure you are not renting to someone with a criminal history or negative rental history. Make sure the information is up-to-date and accurate; otherwise, it won’t be helpful in making an informed decision about who to rent to.

3. Check Credit History

Photo by Berkeley Communications on Unsplash

A potential tenant’s credit history can tell you a lot about his or her financial stability, so it is important to check this information before deciding whether or not to rent to them. Make sure you understand how credit scores work and what factors could have had a negative impact on their score before making your decision.

4. Verify Employment

Verifying employment means checking that the prospective tenant has the income necessary to pay rent on time every month. Speak directly with their employer (or former employer) rather than relying solely on written documentation in order to get the most accurate information possible.

5. Ask for References

Ask potential tenants for at least two references from past landlords or employers who can vouch for their character and behavior as a tenant (or employee). Be sure to follow up with these references; don’t just take their word for it!

6. Use Social Media

Take advantage of social media like Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram to learn more about potential tenants’ lifestyles and interests (and even their finances). This can help you make an informed decision about whether or not they would be suitable tenants in your property. Just make sure that any information gathered through social media is relevant and legal before using it as part of your decision-making process.

7. Don’t Discriminate

Photo by Daniela Holzer on Unsplash

Be aware of fair housing laws when selecting tenants; do not discriminate against any applicants based on race, gender, national origin, religion, disability status, family status, sexual orientation, age, etc., as this constitutes illegal discrimination under federal law.

8. Enforce Strict Policies

Make sure all potential tenants are aware of your policies—especially those related to late payments or damages—before signing the lease agreement so there are no surprises down the line if things don’t go according to plan.

9. Require Security Deposits

A security deposit helps protect landlords from damages caused by careless or irresponsible tenants; make sure all prospective tenants understand that this deposit may need to be paid upfront before moving into the property in order for them to become official renters.

10. Have a Backup Plan

Photo by moeed rehman on Unsplash

Finally, make sure you have a backup plan in case your first choice falls through; it always pays off to have several options available so that you can choose the best one without delay.

Conclusion

Finding good tenants isn’t easy, but it doesn’t have to be impossible either! By following these ten essential tips for screening tenants, landlords and property managers can rest assured knowing they’re making educated decisions regarding who should live in their properties. With proper vetting processes in place, landlords can enjoy financial success while building healthy relationships with quality renters!


Be the best at what you do by getting Achieving Financial Success as a Property Manager: An Insider’s Guide today. Inside, you’ll find all the tips and strategies needed to become a master of rental property management. Get your copy now from your favorite bookseller – it’s time to take charge of your career and reach success in this exciting field:

  • Amazon 
  • Books2Read for Apple, Barnes & Noble, Kobo, Scribed, and 8 more sellers with both eBook and paperback options available
  • Payhip as a PDF

Content created by J. Scott Digital freelance copywriting services. Featured photo by Markus Winkler on Unsplash. This blog post is available for purchase and re-use as a limited-edition NFT on Mirror.xyz

Related posts:

finding new tenantsThe Ultimate Guide to Finding New Tenants market and lease propertiesHow To Market and Lease Properties for Maximum Profit enforcing lease termsEnforcing Lease Terms: What Landlords Need to Know managing lease renewalsManaging Lease Renewals: What Landlords Need to Know
BUY THIS BOOK ON:
Amazon
Books2Read for Apple, Barnes & Noble, Kobo, Scribed, and 8 more sellers

Payhip as PDF

Blog content on this website created by J. Scott Digital freelance copywriting services.

1031 Exchange Apartments.com Commercial property maintenance Commercial real estate Commercial real estate leasing Commercial real estate property management Credit history DIY lanldord Fair housing Federal Fair Housing Act Financial reporting How to manage tenants HUD IRS Schedule E Landlord-tenant laws Landlord bookkeeping Landlord insurance Leasing in property management Maintenance and repairs Manage rental property Managing tenants Market and lease properties Online rental listings Online rent collection Property management software Property management tasks Real estate depreciation Recession Rental dwelling insurance Rental income Rental property accounting Rental property bookkeeping Rental property expenses Rental property insurance Rental property record keeping Rental property software Residential leasing Residential rental property ROI Self-manage rental property Social media Tenant eviction Tenant relations Tenant screening Zillow

Learn more about affiliate and sponsor relationships, copyrights, and privacy on this website by reading our Privacy & Disclosures page.

Learn

Basic Property Management provides owners and managers of rental property with the tips, tools, and techniques they need to be successful. We provide articles on a variety of topics, including how to find and screen tenants, how to negotiate leases, and how to handle repairs and maintenance. We also offer a directory of property management services and resources, so you can find everything you need in one place.

Residential

Residential real estate property management is the process of overseeing and renting out residential properties. This type of property management is different from commercial property management in a few key ways. First, residential properties are usually smaller in scale than commercial properties. Additionally, residential property managers typically work with individual tenants rather than with businesses. Finally, the leasing terms for residential rentals are usually shorter than those for commercial rentals. As a result, residential property managers must be skilled at handling a variety of tasks, from marketing and advertising vacant units to collecting rent and dealing with maintenance issues.

Commercial

Commercial real estate property management is different from residential property management in a few key ways. For one, commercial properties tend to be much larger than residential ones, so the management team has to be able to handle a larger volume of tenants. Additionally, commercial leases are usually much longer than residential leases, so the manager needs to be prepared for a longer-term commitment. Finally, commercial properties tend to have more complex financial arrangements and regulations that need to be followed. As a result, it takes a different set of skills and knowledge to effectively manage a commercial property.

©2023 Basic Property Management | Design: Newspaperly WordPress Theme