Knowing the right tenant screening questions to ask is key to protecting your investment. Tenant screening is vital because you\u2019re most likely renting to a stranger. There is only so much you can tell from first impressions. Therefore, screening is your only chance to recognize a potentially good tenant from a disastrous one.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n Standard\u00a0<\/span>procedures for screening a tenant<\/span><\/a>\u00a0include checking references from previous landlords, employment references, and a credit report. However, interviewing the tenant is just as important. Asking the right interview questions gives you a chance to learn vital information about the prospective renter. You can also gauge their reaction to specific questions\u2014more than you can from a rental application form.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n This article discusses the most important questions to ask tenants to ensure they are a good fit for the rental unit. But, it\u2019s crucial to know why you must ask these questions.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n Three factors help identify the ideal tenant:<\/span><\/p>\n These factors help to ensure three crucial things:<\/span><\/p>\n Although the pre-rental interview is designed to get to know the tenant better, you must be careful. There are specific interview questions you can never ask a tenant. You should stay clear of questions that appear discriminatory or violate the\u00a0<\/span>Fair Housing Act<\/span><\/a>. Here\u2019s\u00a0<\/span>what you should know about the Fair Housing Act<\/span><\/a>.<\/span><\/p>\n Asking questions is the only way to assess a rental applicant. However, to ensure you get the\u00a0<\/span>right\u00a0<\/span><\/em>tenant, you must ask the\u00a0<\/span>right\u00a0<\/span><\/em>questions. And not just any question will do. The better the questions, the better your position to accurately evaluate the potential tenant.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n Here are the best 10 screening questions landlords should ask potential tenants during the interview.<\/span><\/p>\n A good first question for a potential renter is knowing when they plan to move. Maybe they have time left on their current lease and can\u2019t move immediately. In this case, it may be best to find a tenant who can move in immediately to reduce vacancy time.<\/span><\/p>\n On the other hand, suppose the current tenant has given two months\u2019 notice, and you have started advertising early. In that case, someone who wants to move immediately wouldn\u2019t be a good match.<\/span><\/p>\n A basic tenant screening question is knowing how long they\u2019ve lived at their current place. Their answer can give an idea of their stability as a long-term tenant. For example, have they lived there for less than a year? In that case, it\u2019s good to find out why. It may be because of relocating with work or another legitimate reason.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n A tenant who is constantly on the move may be a sign of a problem tenant, and there\u2019s a risk they won\u2019t stay for the entire lease agreement term.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n Moving can be expensive, not to mention stressful. So, it\u2019s worth asking a prospective tenant their reasons for moving. Maybe their current place no longer matches their needs. Or, they may need to live closer to work or family. Was it an increase in rent prices? Regardless of their reason, always do your due diligence during the screening process.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n It\u2019s always a red flag if the tenant lies about their reason for moving. For instance, they say they need to downsize, but you learn from references that they are getting evicted or regularly miss rent payments.<\/span><\/p>\n If you don\u2019t allow pets in your rental unit, then you must find out about any animals they have. However, even if you have a pet policy allowing animals, you may have restrictions on the size and breed. So, it\u2019s best to find out before signing the rental agreement. Additionally, you can discuss your policy on paying a pet deposit and any additional fees.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n If you allow pet owners to rent, always carry out\u00a0<\/span>pet screening<\/span><\/a>\u00a0beforehand.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n Pro tip:<\/span><\/strong>\u00a0Remember that a service animal isn\u2019t classified as a pet, and you can\u2019t deny housing to someone who has one. You should also\u00a0<\/span>check that the emotional support animal letter is genuine<\/span><\/a>.<\/span><\/p>\n Rental laws restrict the number of people per bedroom in a rental unit. If you have a multi-tenancy unit, asking this simple question is essential. In any case, anyone living in the apartment permanently should be named on the lease agreement.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n A vital rental screening question to ask a tenant is if they smoke. Typically, a rental agreement should state your\u00a0<\/span>smoking policy<\/span><\/a>\u00a0and outline the consequences for violating the lease. However, asking if they smoke allows you to assess their reaction.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n It\u2019s not impolite to ask a straightforward question about how much a prospective tenant earns. After all, you must know if they can afford the monthly rent or not. Typically, a tenant can afford rent if they spend no more than 30% of their income on housing. According to a\u00a0<\/span>Harvard study<\/span><\/a>, the 30% rule \u201cremains a reliable indicator of affordability both over time and across markets.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\nWhat Makes the Ideal Tenant?<\/span><\/h2>\n
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Interview Questions You Cannot Ask<\/span><\/h2>\n
Top 10 Screening Questions to Ask a Tenant<\/span><\/h2>\n
1. When do you plan on moving in?<\/span><\/h3>\n
2. How long have you lived at your current address?<\/span><\/h3>\n
3. Why are you moving?<\/span><\/h3>\n
4. Do you have pets?<\/span><\/h3>\n
5. How many people will be living with you?<\/span><\/h3>\n
6. Are you or anyone who will be living in the apartment smokers?<\/span><\/h3>\n
7. What\u2019s your current income?<\/span><\/h3>\n
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