The Urban Insitute's Housing Matters division notes that a whopping 90% of landlords in the U.S. perform a variety of background checks on potential tenants.
Numbers don't lie. You don't want to be among the few who don't screen tenants. Tenant screening is one of the most important tasks for any landlord. That being said, the quality of your tenants will largely depend on your tenant screening questions. Ask the right questions and you'll increase your chances of getting the right tenants.
To point you in the right direction, we're sharing a few of the key questions to ask.
What's Your Motivation for Moving?
America is the land of the free, and people are free to relocate as many times as they wish. Nothing wrong with that, but as a landlord, the reasons for a potential tenant's move can signal whether they'll be a good tenant or a tenant from hell.
Expect regular answers, such as job transfers, college, and financial reasons. No one is going to tell you they're moving because they have recently been evicted, so you have to go further and do some due diligence to ensure their reason is true.
If they're moving because of a job transfer, you can confirm this from the employer. If they're joining college, ask to see the admission letter. Don't accept a rental application if you aren't satisfied with the reason for moving or can't verify it.
Who'll Be Living in the Rental?
Ordinarily, the person making the rental application will be your tenant, but it's not uncommon for them not to be the primary resident. For example, a husband can rent out an apartment but it will be the spouse living in it most of the time.
Either way, you should have the personal identification records of all the people who will be living in the rental at one time or another.
Another reason for asking this question is to establish the number of people who will be living there. Most landlords have a limit on the maximum number of residents who can live in a rental, so you want to ensure the tenant isn't going to move in with more people than required.
Do You Have Pets or Support Animals?
In Texas, landlords are legally allowed to enforce no-pet policies but must make exceptions for service/support animals.
If you have a no-pet policy, of course, you want a renter who doesn't own any pets. Even if your rental is pet-friendly, you'll still want to know the type of pet. Landlords can disallow certain pets or breeds because they cause damage or pose a danger to others.
In the case of support animals, you must do all you can to make the property accommodative to both the tenant and their animals. You can also ask to see their ESA letter.
Ask These Important Tenant Screening Questions
Conducting tenant background checks is the surest way to minimize costly evictions and other problematic tenant issues. Asking these tenant screening questions will help you zero in on your ideal tenants.
If screening renters sounds like a lot of work, that's because it is. Thankfully, you can get professional help. At PMI Austin, we offer tenant screening services as part of our full-service property management package.
Our company is part of a national brand that's been redefining the property management industry for over two decades. Call us to schedule a consultation.
