Screening potential tenants can be an exhausting process, however it is necessary to learn as much as possible about prospective renters to avoid problems in the future. No one is going to tell you if they have caused trouble for past landlords, you will need to find this out for yourself.

First have the prospective tenant fill out an application along with a release form that gives you permission to pull a credit report and perform a criminal background check. There are landlord associations that have a lot of the required forms and can assist with background checks. Search the internet using the keyword "landlord associations" in order to find them.

Once a copy of the credit report and criminal background check is in hand, take your time and review it carefully. Are there any late payments or loans defaulted on in the past? If so how much time has gone by and does it look like a single incident or a bad habit? Does this person owe any back child support? If they do, eventually they will go to prison with no notice and you will be stuck with no rent payments and possibly all their personal possessions until they return. By then, even if you get another tenant, you may incur storage fees for all their stuff.

The next step is to call the past landlords and ask them if they ever had any problems with the applicant such as late payments, noise, etc. Use caution when interviewing a current landlord as they may be willing to do anything to get the applicant off their property including passing on false information.

Talking to the local police if the person is from the area can also help. Although they are limited on the information they are allowed to disclose, it is easy to tell if someone is a troublemaker based on the reaction of the officer when they hear the name of that person mentioned.

After the prospective tenant passes the above tests meet with them to sign a lease. Make sure they bring the required security deposit and sign a pet contract if needed. Verify that everyone over the age of eighteen will sign the lease. List all children that will live in the dwelling. Also review the lease with them as a surprising number of people sign without reading. A cosigner can also be requested on any lease but it will be just as difficult to collect unpaid rent from them as it is a tenant. Check with the local magistrate and court in advance so you are well aware of what action can be taken if necessary.

The above steps do not guarantee that a tenant will never cause problems, however many prospects will hesitate to allow you to investigate them if they have something to hide. The above process typically scares off the potential problem tenant and saves a lot of headaches down the road. It is also a good idea to read personal accounts of other landlords to find out what type of problems they have experienced.

Good luck and good future tenants!

Learn more about this author, Bonnie Valentine.
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