Are you trying to find the best tenants for your rental property?
Great tenants are harder to come by than you might think. You can do the best marketing to find tenants online and have the clearest lease and still get a bad egg or two from time to time.
While there's no surefire way to find tenants that fit perfectly into your building, tenant screening is a great way to get a feel for them. With a background check and a few questions, you can determine whether or not someone seems like a good match.
Not sure what to ask? Read on to learn our best tenant screening questions.
Do You Currently Rent (and for How Long)?
It's helpful, as a landlord, if you can get a solid rental history from your tenant.
If a tenant has rented a unit before, or if they rent at the moment, you know that they're somewhat familiar with the process. This makes things easier for both of you.
If someone has been at their current rental for a long time, you can also expect that they'll be good tenants (and that they may renew a lease with you as well).
With that in mind, you will encounter renters who are new to renting, and that's okay. Some people are out of their parent's home for the first time, they may have had their own home, or they may have had an "unconventional" living situation.
What Do You Do for Work?
Some renters will be able to pay rent without an issue regardless of their work situation, but these renters are few and far between.
Most of the time, you want to get tenants who have a reliable income. You can ask for pay stubs, or if a potential tenant works for themself, you may be able to ask for a bank statement or another method of proof.
Do You Have Pets?
Pets are a big deal for some landlords, and that's okay. Pets have the potential to ruin rental properties if they don't have attentive owners.
If you allow pets, you may have restrictions. Some landlords only allow pets in enclosures (like reptiles, fish, or rodents) while others allow any pets that are below a certain size.
Keep in mind that service animals don't qualify as pets and you do need to allow them in your building unless you can prove that it would be an undue burden or a safety hazard.
Do You Have any Evictions In Your History?
A tenant without previous evictions is more likely to be a great tenant. That said, don't let this be a disqualifying factor.
You can talk to previous landlords to determine whether or not the eviction was fair or reasonable, but make sure that you also get the tenant's side. Sometimes there are special circumstances (like the tenant falling ill, living with a problematic roommate who caused damage, or losing a job) that can cause evictions.
Use These Tenant Screening Questions Next Time You Look for Tenants
By using tenant screening questions, you'll be able to get a better feel for who is going to be a great tenant for your building. While there are no foolproof methods for screening a tenant, this is a great start.
Are you looking for great new tenants for your building in Miami, Florida? We want to help you!
At HomeRiver Group, our property management professionals know how to choose tenants that will be a great fit for your property. We can also help with marketing, maintenance, and more. Contact us to learn all about the services that we have to offer.
