Think about all the fair housing laws (and exceptions to those laws) that apply to you as a homeowner – there are some questions you can and can`t ask. We recommend using the same script and asking the same questions to all potential tenants. Don`t forget to record all the answers to your screening questions so you can accurately compare potential tenants. Keep these answers for a sufficient period of time in case a rejected tenant accuses you of a fair housing violation or if you need to prove that a problematic tenant was not honest during the application process. A thorough screening will help you answer this question for you, but if you personally inquire with your potential tenants, the applicant will have the opportunity to explain the situation. TransUnion`s research shows that past evictions predict future evictions, so if they say yes, you should proceed with caution. However, if there were extenuating circumstances and their current financial situation is in order, it may not affect your decision to accept them as a tenant. You can`t necessarily turn away a potential tenant for committing a crime, but you should be on the lookout for relevant criminal convictions that could pose a threat to your property or community: Some factors that may indicate an ideal tenant: This is a good first question to ask potential tenants. Many tenants move to be closer to their new job or for more space. Often, a tenant decides to move simply because their rent is increased — according to the 2019 Zillow Group Consumer Housing Trends report, 78% of renters who move from one tenancy to another experience a rent increase before moving. Make sure you are consistent on this issue – ask all or none candidates.
Keep in mind that if a potential tenant has used drugs before, but is participating in a treatment program or has stopped using drugs, they are protected under the Fair Housing Act. Some states and cities have laws regarding the number of occupants per room. Check what the limit is for your area, and then check if the potential tenant`s household is below the limit. Occupancy issues are rare — the typical American tenant is a 33-year-old man who shares a home with a pet, kids, or roommate — but you should always check. Make sure you follow fair housing laws when dealing with families. Many landlords conduct background and credit checks on applicants. If you need these checks and a potential tenant disagrees with them, you can automatically remove them from your tenant group. Make sure the applicant gives written permission to conduct these reviews when submitting their application – verbal confirmation is not enough. A complete selection of tenants is one of the most important steps in finding a good tenant. SmartMove`s online tenant screening services include comprehensive credit history, criminal history and eviction reports, and TransUnion`s Income Insight report, so you can be sure your reports are accurate and up-to-date.
Making more informed decisions about applicants will help protect both your property and your rental income. By conducting a thorough credit check on the landlord and asking the right questions, you are much more likely to find reliable and profitable tenants. This preliminary tenant screening question will help pre-qualify applicants before proceeding with a more formal screening. If you have pets and don`t accept pets, you`ve saved time and effort for yourself and the applicant. If you allow pets, but have restrictions on the number or size of pets, this is also the time to inform the applicant. It may also be a good time to let them know about the pet fees/deposits you need for their furry friends. This is one of the most important questions that rental applicants should ask, as no landlord wants to worry about renting to someone with a history of evictions. Maybe they`ve been through tough times, but they`re now financially stable — or maybe they have a history of evictions due to property damage or excessive noise. Learn more, taking into account fair housing laws, to learn as much as you can about the aspects of a tenant that affect your rental property. Here are some examples below – Do you have any questions about the process? With that in mind, here are 20 tenant selection questions you should ask potential tenants: Need help dealing with a problematic tenant in your rental property? Rest assured that Bay Property Management Group`s high-quality real estate investment management services handle all tenant or real estate matters promptly and legally. Call us today to find out what full-service rental management can do for your investment. In addition, it will help you check the details of your application in terms of employment.
So, you don`t know what to ask? Below are some great questions to keep handy when contacting employers as part of your tenant reference checks. Before considering the best tenant selection questions, think about the information you are looking for in your candidates. Part of the process of getting to know a rental applicant – and deciding whether or not they qualify as a new tenant – involves asking a series of specific tenant selection questions, either in person during a viewing or in writing as part of the rental application process. However, it is important to understand which issues help and which are taboo. You have your own rules about how your property should be treated and maintained. Your neighbourhood or condominium association may also have rules. It is important that these are communicated to your potential tenant and that you understand how willing and able they are to integrate into your community. If so, your application and screening process should be simple. If not, it`s a good idea to explain the next steps, such as filling out a rental application, paying the application fee, and agreeing to the background and credit check process. Make sure they don`t have any questions about the rental application that might make them hesitant to apply. Many landlords consider criminal history and general income to be important to their selection decision. A recent survey of SmartMove users found that 60% of homeowners strongly agreed that criminal history is more important than credit history.
You want a tenant who is able to pay the rent on time. A good rule of thumb is that a tenant should not spend more than 30% of their monthly income on rent. So if your monthly rent is $1,200, you want a tenant who earns $4,000 a month. The median household income for today`s typical renter is $37,500 per year, and the median monthly rent is $1,067. While you can claim a full monthly income, some states don`t allow you to apply for sources of income. One-third of renters (33%) spend less than a month searching, while 38% spend one to two months. Since landlords typically require a 30-day notice period to cancel a lease, your potential tenant may not be ready to move in yet. In many cases, a tenant will want to move in early next month. You may feel that tenant selection questions create an artificial or even conflicting relationship between you and your potential tenant.