When doing tenant screening on someone who is a fairly new immigrant to this country, verifying employment is the first crucial step. You need to make sure they have a qualified income and will be able to make rent. Ask specifically for credit references rather than just previous landlords and personal references.

Don’t avoid tenant screening because you assume the applicants won’t have credit or references. If on the application you notice their SIN does not start with 9, then they have been in the country more than two years — and the claim that they are recent immigrants may be a lie to hide a bad credit history.

If after the tenant screening process you’re still unsure about their abiity to pay, you can ask for a guarantor — a co-signor on the lease who will pay in the event the tenant fails to pay the rent or causes damage to the property. The guarantor will need to be someone with a positive credit report and an established presence in this country so you can collect against their assets if you need to.

One final note: While a landlord does have the right to screen tenants, it’s important to treat all applicants the same. Denying a rental application on the basis of one’s immigration status is discrimination. Similarly, it’s important that you require other applicants without credit or a landlord reference to provide a guarantor, to avoid discrimination claims.

Did you know previous eviction notices don’t show up on credit reports? Don’t be duped into thinking a credit check is all you need to be assured you don’t have a problem tenant. Get a professional tenant screening!

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First and foremost, the landlord is responsible for any repairs to fix damage to the property by those who entered the house unlawfully. This includes replacing broken windows, screens and doors that may have been broken during the crime. As the landlord, you are required to secure the property with proper locks on the windows and doors. You want your tenants to feel safe, but also you don’t want to be considered negligent in the case of a crime.

Even if the tenant left the door unlocked or a window open, it would be very difficult to establish gross negligence on the part of the tenant. However, you are not responsible for the tenant’s possessions, and anything they lose as a result of a break-in is not your responsibility. Urge your tenants to look into getting renters’ insurance, so that their belongings are covered in such an unfortunate event. It is a great investment to make.

Credit reports can tell a lot about a potential tenant, but they do not show whether someone has a previous eviction notice. Fill in the blanks on a prospective tenant’s background by using a tenant screening service to see important details about their rental history.

Some experts say including data about rent payments in credit reports could benefit consumers because it will help banks and other lenders pick up on potential consumers who are credit-worthy even if they don’t yet have traditional forms of credit, like credit cards or mortgages. It could be useful for a good tenant who’s never been late on rent to have that kind of positive credit history show up on a credit check when they’re looking to buy their first house or want to establish credit.

RentBureau is a national network of 45 property companies that collect data about rental payments and automatically report that payment history to RentBureau every 24 hours. Experian acquired RentBureau in 2010.

Did you know previous eviction notices don’t show up on credit reports? Don’t be duped into thinking a credit check is all you need to be assured you don’t have a problem tenant. Get a professional tenant screening!

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1. Check with your bank about setting up an automatic deposit for the rent on a specified day every month.
2. Switch to Cash Only or Money Order situation, where the tenant is required to show you the money up front instead of signing off on a check that may or may not have the funds behind it.
3. Cash the check as soon as you get it. Don’t let it sit on your desk for days or weeks. Many people live paycheck to paycheck, and a tenant’s checking account might fluctuate significantly from the first of the month to the end of the month. They have written you a check when they have the money in the bank, so take it while it’s there.  

If an otherwise favorable tenant is unwilling or hesitant to work with you to ensure your prompt payment, they are a problem tenant and probably don’t want them renting from you for much longer. Document everything, including dates for when rent arrived and any communication you had with them in an attempt to get paid. You’ll need proof of the problem in order to begin an eviction process.

Did you know previous eviction notices don’t show up on credit reports? Don’t be duped into thinking a credit check is all you need to be assured you don’t have a problem tenant. Get a professional tenant screening!

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The biggest mistake a landlord can make is to trust someone prematurely — to assume that the nice person who came and looked at the property and seemed so friendly and well-spoken is actually a wholly honest, perfect tenant. To keep from making a poor choice in tenants, don’t skip the homework of thoroughly researching the supposed facts laid out in the rental application. 

When doing an employment check, remember that you don’t have to use the contact person they give you. Remember there’s a chance, however slight, that the third party is in cahoots with the prospective tenant and may not actually be a former employer at all. So ask to speak with the human resources director, not just the person your prospective tenant wrote down as his boss. 

Character and personal references – Don’t just call the first personal reference listed. Obviously these people were picked for the favorable reviews they’ll give a landlord, but you never know. Ask more than just perfunctory questions; dig a little to find out about the prospective tenant’s character and behavior. 

When calling previous landlords, go beyond just asking whether the tenant paid rent on time. Probe deeper to find out whether he was a problem tenant in other ways — Did neighbors ever complain about him? Did he take care of the property?

The best way to ensure that the tenant screening process drums up the most accurate information available is by hiring a professional tenant screening service that will take a look at various records — which might include a criminal background check, a credit report, employment verification and previous evictions.

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 You want your property to make a good first impression and therefore attract good tenants — those who keep the place clean and well maintained, take care of their belongings and the property, and are proud to call your property home. While it’s true that problem tenants come in all shapes and sizes, putting your property’s best face forward is a good first step to avoiding problems — with your property and with your tenants — down the line.  

First, make sure the unit is ready. Make any necessary repairs before the “For Rent” sign goes up. Freshen the paint if necessary, and get the floors and carpets professionally cleaned. Tenants want to know they’re leasing a unit that is clean and move-in ready.

Second, play up the building’s strengths. Whether it’s a beautiful stone fireplace, the proximity to amenities or an in-house fitness center, be sure to point it out. Conversely, downplay the building’s weaknesses, but be honest. If your building’s parking spaces are limited, for example, give prospective tenants a reasonable alternative that’s available to them.

Finally, focus on making prospective tenants feel at home. Take a look at the entryway and any furnishings in the property and make sure the style is in line with the area (Young and hip? Older and traditional? Modest and clean?) and with your target market. Offer freshly baked cookies or bottled water to people who stop by to take a tour. Engage them in conversation and be ready to answer questions. This first impression goes both ways, and you want to maximize the opportunity to get to know the people who might be calling your property home.

Did you know previous eviction notices don’t show up on credit reports? Don’t be duped into thinking a credit check is all you need to be assured you don’t have a problem tenant. Get a professional tenant screening!

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1. How much does it cost. Fees vary wildly from place to place, so find out what their monthly fee is and whether that will be the difference between you continuing to turn a profit, breaking even, or slipping into the red.  Be sure to read every line of a contract as well so you’re not stuck with hidden fees that will inflate the bill.
2. Who will be taking care of your property? Will there be a dedicated property manager for your place, or a rotating list of managers who might not be all that familiar with your property. It’s best to assign one property manager to your property, that way the person is aware of any past issues or idiosyncrasies with the property and with the tenant.
3. Are they familiar with your property type and location? Make sure the company handles the type of property you own, whether it’s a multi-unit building or a single-family residence. And they should be within a short distance to the property, readily available to deal with any issues that arise in a timely manner.
4. How will they market your property? You need to know how proactive they’ll be in filling vacancies, preferably using multiple forms of media outlets (both print and online).

Credit reports can tell a lot about a potential tenant, but they do not show whether someone has a previous eviction notice. Fill in the blanks on a prospective tenant’s background by using a tenant screening service to see important details about their rental history.

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Most landlords would say “yes” to that without thinking much about it, but there are circumstances to consider when deciding whether to give someone a second chance at being a responsible tenant.

It’s true that some people are just problem tenants who lack the responsibility needed to honor a lease agreement. But there are other tenants who are responsible but may have fallen on hard times. Thousands of hard-working people have suffered through layoffs and salary cuts in recent years, and that kind of financial hit can quickly snowball for a family that was just getting by before.

Divorce, death of a spouse, loss of a roommate, a medical crisis, and domestic violence are other circumstances that may have contributed to some tenants getting themselves in trouble with previous lease agreements.

Only you can decide how comfortable you feel accepting a former problem tenant. It’s best to get a thorough credit check and tenant screening, and talk to the person’s previous landlords about the tenant’s behavior, how they maintained the property, and why they were evicted.

Did you know previous eviction notices don’t show up on credit reports? Don’t be duped into thinking a credit check is all you need to be assured you don’t have a problem tenant. Get a professional tenant screening!

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1. Tenants who don’t pay their rent. Month after month, they fail to meet the most basic landlord-tenant agreement.
2. Tenants who drive their neighbors crazy with their loud partying, barking dogs or other ways they constantly disrupting the peace.
3. Tenants who want the world on a platter when they sign the lease, and continue with their demands for minor repairs, new paint, tenant agreement exceptions, and anything else they can think of.
4. Tenants who don’t respect other people’s property — namely, yours. Carpets are destroyed, windows or doors are broken, appliances are left in disrepair, or pets are allowed to destroy carpets, floors, doors and anything else they can get their claws on.

So how do you deal with problem tenants? The best way, of course, is to weed them out before a lease is signed.

1. Call each reference listed on the rental application and check each employer and former landlord as well. Don’t just call the first person on the list and assume the rest of the references will say the same things.
2. Pay attention to the questions they ask and the way they present themselves when they meet you to see the property.
3. Use a tenant screening service to get the most thorough background check on any prospective tenant. 

Credit reports can tell a lot about a potential tenant, but they do not show whether someone has a previous eviction notice. Fill in the blanks on a prospective tenant’s background by using a tenant screening service to see important details about their rental history.

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When the weather gets nasty, most landlords and tenants do a good job of assessing the rental property on the ground level, checking for slick spots on the sidewalk and clear paths to all doorways.

But as the property manager it’s important to look up as well — to check for fragile tree limbs hanging heavy with snow or ice, and to assess the roof for heavy snow and possible ice accumulation as well. Snow may seem light and fluffy on your car, but it can get quite compressed and heavy as it sits on a roof. And freezing rain and sub-zero temps can make that weight even heavier and more dangerous.

Did you know previous eviction notices don’t show up on credit reports? Don’t be duped into thinking a credit check is all you need to be assured you don’t have a problem tenant.

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