RentalProperties.com will add a link to your rental property site for free! Just send your link and description to: info@rentalproperties.com
Tips for choosing good tenants from RentalProperties.com
As a landlord or rental property owner, you want to choose tenants who
will take care of your rental property, pay the rent on time and cause
as few problems as possible for your rental building and neighborhood.
How do you go about trying to find these ideal tenants?
1. Know the rules governing landlord-tenant relationships--federal,
state and local- and to comply with all Fair Housing Act requirements
in advertising and selecting tenants.
2. Be the kind of landlord good tenants want to rent from. As in most relationships, good communication is a key to successful tenant-landlord dealings. Meet your prospective tenants in person, preferably at the rental property itself so that you can answer questions about the property directly. If you have a representative, manager or broker interview tenants for you, make sure your representative is meticulous, qualified and a good 'people person'. Be sure to be available to answer any questions your broker or representative may have and to handle any problems promptly.
3. Have a standard screening application that is given to all tenants and be sure the prospective tenants fill the application out completely.
The application items should include, among others:
Names of all potential tenants
Contact phone, cell phone and email addresses.
Current addresses and length of this rental (how long have you lived at this address?). If a relatively short stay at that address, you may want the address of the previous rental.
Employment history and references of all applicants.
Social security numbers. Signed permission to obtain credit history and references. CHECK THE CREDIT REFERENCES. It is worth the upfront cost to an independent credit agency before you are faced with a non-paying tenant.
Several personal character references. BE SURE TO CHECK THE REFERENCES. Ask for permission to speak with previous landlords. Be aware that some potential tenants may give false information or phony references--it is best to ask for permission to speak with several references and call them all.
In some situations, documentation of immigration status. Again, be sure you conform with updated government regulations.
The information on RentalProperties.com is intended for informational purposes and not guaranteed. Please consult with an attorney or your own professional advisor regarding your specific situation.
