How Should I Screen A Tenant?

If you’re a prospective landlord and you’re trying to figure out how to screen a tenant, here are the major factors you should consider:

• Employment, income and credit history - This gives you an idea of the tenants ability to pay.
• Social Security number and driver’s license numbers - This will prove the identity of the person and allow you to request the credit report.
• Rental history - Are there a lot of evictions in this tenants history? Have they moved around a lot? How come?
• Bankruptcies - Again, this goes back to the tenants ability to pay.
• References - Ask the tenants former landlords for information on this one, was your prospect tenant evicted the last time around?

It’s easier to be more stringent in screening than it is to kick out a tenant, remember that.