Landlords want to be sure to rent to good tenants who will take good care of the premises and make timely rental payments. Following an application procedure requires time, patience and persistence. Screening Applicants
Pre-qualify applicants. For example, ask about the beginning date of occupancy, advise applicants as to the amount of deposit required, the number of occupants, ask whether they have pets, and whether they have a waterbed. Don't reveal your criteria to the prospective tenant. Rather, ask open-ended questions such as, "Do you have any pets?" If the tenant does not satisfy your initial criteria, there is no need to even complete an application or take the time to show the premises. Have all prospective tenants who satisfy the initial criteria complete an application form. The landlord is not obligated to rent to the first applicant. (Please read the Discrimination topic for an explanation of a related matter.) Indicate that you will be taking applications over the next few days, verifying employment, credit and references, and will let the applicant know of your decision. Write the reasons for rejection on the back of the Application form and keep it for at least three (3) years as evidence of your fair rental practices. Some of the information on the application may appear irrelevant, but is good information if you need to collect rent or delinquent rent. Review the Application as if you were trying to collect a judgment for delinquent rent. If the Tenant does not have stable employment or any assets to attach, how can they pay rent? |