by Scott Holloway

Created on: January 01, 2011   Last Updated: January 04, 2011

Screening potential tenants is perhaps the most important activity a landlord can undertake. The result can be either a successful relationship enabling you to achieve your goals as a landlord or an experience which can cost you both time and money. The landlord-tenant relationship can be a complex one given the laws that exist in some states governing this area. It is important to research the laws that apply to your situation prior to engaging in the interview process in order to protect yourself from a legal standpoint. These laws were originally designed to prevent discrimination against tenants but often times they can impede the ability of a landlord to deal with a difficult situation once the landlord-tenant relationship has been established. As a landlord you should be primarily interested in a potential tenant’s ability to pay the rent on time, their rental history with other landlords, willingness to agree to elements of a lease agreement, and intended length of occupancy.

The interview process is your opportunity to size up prospective tenants and judge how well they may suit your needs as landlord. You must remember that your property represents an investment which must not only be protected but maximized in terms of value. It is senseless to allow a bad string of tenants to adversely affect that investment. When initial contact is made listen for clues as to why the tenant is leaving their current situation. Any well meaning tenant looking to put their best foot forward would pick a quiet time to contact a prospective landlord. Thus if you detect loud noise, yelling, or use of profanity while on the telephone, these could be danger signs of unrest that you should note. When meeting a prospective tenant at your property note the type and condition of car they drive as well as their ability to arrive on time. While this is not the most important factor in determining a person’s ability to pay the rent, it may give some clues as to lifestyle and sense of responsibility which could affect their ability to pay the rent on time.

It is not unusual for tenants to utilize friends or agents to inspect a rental or talk with a landlord. During the interview process, make sure you are actually dealing with the prospective tenant themselves. Imagine your surprise when a rock band or family of 12 is suddenly living in your upstairs apartment! Thus you should not only focus on the business side of the relationship but also compatibility. Don’t

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