Screening Tenants

Comments(9)

• 
  64Ford14th September, 2003

  There are some GREAT landlording books out there that cover this topic. See if you can pick one up at your local library.
  
  Basically, you want to have an application that covere where they work, how much they're bringing home, references from the last TWO landlords, a credit report, etc
  There are some online tenatn screening agencies that will do all this for you ...for a fee, of course.
  
  Good Luck!

• 
  jhgraves17th September, 2003

  Another place to look would also be the sheriff's office in the locales they have resided. It may be worth the $5 to do a background check, that is a service provided by some of the online screeners.

• 
  SavvyYoungster17th September, 2003

  First off, I charge a $50 application fee right off the bat, and tell them up front that I'm using the fee to do a credit check. That usually sends them running, or they begin to admit everything back to stealing candy in the third grade.
  
  I never call previous landlords because they lie. The new thing in landlording is to promise a trouble tenet moving out that you will give a good reference for them. It's classic "pass the trash" in landlording.
  
  If they have the gumption to fill out the application, I'll call the employer and just see if they work there. Also, when I'm interviewing them for the apartment, I watch for what I call "dead giveaways". When they offer information like "I've never been evicted" when we were talking about the sink. That's a dead giveaway. Not only have they been evicted, they are lieing to your face.
  
  Hope this helps

• 
  DaveT18th September, 2003

  I have commented on application fees before.
  
  Check your local landlord tenant laws, because they may have some restrictions on the application fee.
  
  For example, in one Maryland jurisdiction, the tenant who is charged a $50 application fee must be given an itemized list of the charges. Any portion of the application fee not actually used must be refunded. Ironically, there is no requirement to itemize, or to refund unused portion of the fee, if the application fee is $25 or less.
  
  Check your local landlord tenant laws and know your responsibilities and obilgations before setting your application fee amount.

• 
  64Ford18th September, 2003

  Yes, the current landlord may just say they are fine to get rid of them.
  That is why I recommend checking the last TWO landlords. The one before the current has nothing to lose/gain, so he is more likely to tell you the truth if they were terrible.

• 
  DaveREI18th September, 2003

  Tenant Screening is easy...I'm hooked up with a great service...Tenant check,background,criminal, credit, for $17 and its perfect
  
  get response in less than 3 minutes...
  
  there are a few services out there you can check into.....

• 
  Nabainhos18th September, 2003

  Dave
  
  Can you please tell us what site is that?
  
  Thanks

• 
  GFous20th September, 2003

  If I need a tenant check ( and for my low income property If checked on my tenants background I would have no tenants) I use a service for $20.00 bucks a pop. I charge $50.00.
  
  For my low income props I find attentive management and agressive but fair rent policies keep my deliquencies to a bare minimum. For example, my rent is due by 1PM the last day of the month for the following month. When they first move in, if I do not have the rent in time I notice them and charge a lete fee THE NEXT DAY. They normally get upset figuring they have have five days. I reexplain the lease and get my money. I will stay on top for the first three months - then I ease up.
  
  I also will wave fees to develop rapport.
  [addsig]

• 
  SavvyYoungster27th September, 2003

  Quote:
  On 2003-09-20 10:34, GFous wrote:
  ... I will stay on top for the first three months - then I ease up....
  
  
  I learned this lesson teaching school. It's easier to ease up than to tighten down. The first 3 months are crucial in the tenet training process.