Tenant screening is crucial in critical steps in rental property management, but mistakes can create issues. Personal biases or skipping essential parts of the background check and key steps in the screening process can lead to significant issues, including late payments, damage, or legal complications. Avoiding these mistakes helps attract high-quality tenants and keep your properties running smoothly. Learn common tenant screening mistakes with practical tips for effective tenant screening.
Mistake #1: Failing to Screen Consistently
Consistency is key to effective tenant screening. Allowing emotions or personal biases influence your decisions risks missing tenants or triggering Legal action, which property owners and managers strive to avoid. Federal laws prohibit discrimination in housing, so a mistake during screening like inconsistent standards can lead to legal issues. Maintain a fair screening process.
Mistake #2: Not Checking the Right References
Another common mistake during screening is failing to verify the correct references. As part of the application process, you should request personal and professional references from prospective tenants in addition to previous landlords. Employment history, financial references, and personal character references are all suitable types of references to request. Then, be sure to contact all of these references and ask the right questions.
For example, you could ask them how long they’ve known the applicant, their job performance, how well they care for their current living space, and if they’ve noticed any red flags. Depending on the type of reference, you should customize your list of questions accordingly.
Mistake #3: Overlooking Credit and Background Checks
A third big mistake in tenant screening is failing to run credit and background checks on the applicant. Both assessments are relatively standard in rental markets nationwide, but some property owners and managers still miss this opportunity to learn valuable information about their renters.
Credit and background checks tell a story about a person and can help you identify possible red flags, such as prior evictions, criminal history, or financial difficulties. While not every negative item on a credit report or a background check is an automatic cause for rejection of an application, these checks do give you what you need to make an informed decision about your next tenant.
Mistake #4: Ignoring Rental History
Perhaps the worst mistake a rental property manager can make is failing to verify a potential applicant’s rental history. Rental history is essential to check because it can give you insight into a renter’s likely future behavior.
When reviewing rental history, be vigilant for potential red flags, such as late payments, property damage, and other lease agreement violations. While you should not base your entire decision on a previous landlord’s report of a person, especially if there were disagreements during the rental period, it can offer valuable insight into how the applicant is likely to behave as a renter.
Mistake #5: Inadequate Communication with Applicants
Failing to communicate clearly and consistently with the applicant is a mistake rental property owners and managers make during the screening process. The application is a stressful experience for renters, risking negative feelings. Shape a positive renter’s experience throughout your association by clarifying your application, timelines, and how your decision will be communicated to avoid misunderstandings and result in negative reviews.
Get Your Screening Process Right!
By following these tips and strategies, you can easily avoid the top mistakes rental property owners and managers make during the screening process. This, in turn, can lead to better tenant retention, fewer headaches, and even boost your reputation as a landlord.
Choose Real Property Management Charleston for tenant screening in Goose Creek with our streamlined screening process and expert property management. Contact us online or call 843-900-4061 now!
We are pledged to the letter and spirit of U.S. policy for the achievement of equal housing opportunity throughout the Nation. See Equal Housing Opportunity Statement for more information.
