digital divide network - article database

Many landlords don’t know how to filter out the prospective tenants, which are willing to rent their properties. This leads to a number of unpleasant situations and complications, some of which could lead to the complete destruction of the property. If the tenants the landlord picks are just bad and irresponsible, the landlord will probably have to deal with a lot of damage and consequences. And it happens very often that these irresponsible tenants just abandon the property without a notice, and leave the landlord to deal with everything all by himself. Thus knowing how to screen potential tenants becomes of imperative importance.
The first and arguable most important step during the screening process, is conducting a background check. When you invite potential tenants to an interview, ask them to bring referrals from their former landlords and current employers. Once that the interviews are over, contact the former landlords and learn details about the personality of the prospective tenants and their living habits. Also, contact the current employers of the applicants. so that you learn if they are really responsible people.

Another great way to make sure that your potential tenants are responsible and reliable, is to conduct a regular credit check. This way you'll make sure that the renters are able to afford to pay the rent and bills on time. If the credit check doesn't look good or there have been some problems with it in the past, you should seriously consider, if these people are the right tenants for you. It's very possible that there can be problems with the payment again. But also remember, that not many people have perfect credit scores. Sometimes good people have problems with the credit, but this doesn't mean that they won't be able to take a good care of your rental unit.

The next step is to ask the right questions during the interviews. For example, don’t hesitate to ask the applicants if you can contact their former landlord. Tenants that have something to hide will try to change your mind and say that the referral says it all.

Also, ask them about their willingness to sign an inventory report prepared by a company that provides professional inventory services. Potential tenants that are reluctant to sign such a document should be discarded, as this is a sign that they aren’t confident enough about being able to properly maintain your property. If you don’t have an inventory report prepared by now, don’t waste any more time and hire a firm that offers these services. If you're looking for a good property inventory in London, check here.

Last, but not least, notify the prospective tenants that you won’t hesitate to evict them, if they don’t follow their responsibilities. Bad tenants are used to getting evicted, and won’t get worried by your statement. Sometimes it's good to add some fear to the situation, because it's a way to gain the tenant's respect. The potential renters have to know that you're a serious landlord, and that you won't put up with late payment and damage to the property.

Filtering the good and discarding the bad potential tenants, is probably one of the most important skills every landlord should possess. Otherwise there can be lots of problems and damage to the property, which is quite unpleasant. This is why landlords have to be aware and careful when making their choice.