New tenant? Never underestimate the importance of the screening process

If you have a prospective new tenant, it is vital that you do a thorough screening before signing anything. This process can help in the decision making process, allowing you to feel more confident in choosing this tenant. A part of this is going through and contacting the tenant’s references. By being thorough here you can save a lot of headaches.

Many property owners are unsure what questions they should even ask a tenant’s references. It can be a daunting call, especially if you are not used to calling references like many property managers are. To help you get started, here are some questions you should consider asking.

Questions for a tenant’s past/current landlord

Calling a previous landlord is a great way to get a picture of your prospective tenant’s rental history. From previous landlords you want to know how good of a tenant they were, and whether they caused any trouble. Alternatively, you could also talk to the agent who managed the property, as generally, they will have had more time dealing with the tenant. Questions for the landlord can include:

1. How long was the tenancy?
2. Who were the occupants listed on the lease?
3. Did the tenant pay their rent on time?
4. Was the property well maintained? Were there any major damages or other maintenance issues?
5. Did the tenant have any pets?
6. Were there any complaints from other tenants or neighbours?
7. Why is the tenant leaving?
8. Would you rent to them again? Why/why not?

Questions for a tenant’s employer

A tenant’s employer will give you another view of the tenant. You can gauge how responsible they are and determine their employment status direct from the source. This reference should not be underestimated as you can learn a lot about a tenant, and how suitable they are for your property, from their employer. Some questions you should ask includes:

1. Can you confirm that this person is/was employed at your company?
2. Do they come to work on time?
3. Do you enjoy working with the applicant?
4. How many hours do they work a week?
5. What are the terms of their employment? Are they employed full-time or on a contract?
6. What is/was their position within the company?
7. Have you ever needed to reprimand the applicant at work?
8. Would you employ them again? Why/why not?

Questions for a personal reference

Your applicant may offer a personal or character reference in order to supplement their application. While many property owners don’t accept these, as they feel they would be biased towards the tenant, they can be useful. Often, they can be used to paint a wider picture of the potential tenant, especially their lifestyle and character. Some questions you could ask includes:

1. How do you know the applicant?
2. How long have you known them?
3. What do they do in their spare time?
4. Have you been to their home before? How would you describe it?
5. Do they smoke?
6. Do they have pets?
7. Can you describe their overall character?
8. Do you know their current relationship/marital status?

Conclusion

Taking your time to conduct detailed checks on a potential tenant will enable you to have greater peace of mind that they will be a good tenant. References are extremely important to check. They will provide you with a wider picture as to who your tenant is, how responsible they are, and whether they have been a good tenant in the past or not.

What is important is asking the references the right questions. Asking the right questions ensures you can get the full image of your potential tenant’s past. A property manager is a great ally to have here. They will do the entire vetting process on your behalf. As well as this, they will have a lot of experience finding and vetting tenants. If you need help finding the right tenants, reach out to Link Living.