Screening tenants - The most important decision

[Nica Ferrante]

Hello BP people,

As I'm working to put together my process for tenants selection there are a couple of questions I would like to have your feedback:

1. If you have a couple as potential tenants, do you make both of them to complete the application? If yes, why?
2. I'm thinking to charge an application fee, should I do this as soon as I receive the application form or once I have review that the potential tenant meets the minimum requirements? 

3. According to the NOLO Landlord's Legal Guide, there are 6 important checks to be performed on a potential tenants. Do you do all of them? Some of them? Which one would you recommend or not recommend? 

• Check references
• Verify income and employment 
• Obtain credit report 
• Verify bank account information
• Review court records  
• Megan's law state database check

Thank you so much for your help!

Nica  

[Brian Adzadi]

@Nica Ferrante

1. YES, because one of them could have a stellar record and the other could have a horrendous record. You rent to them and 1 or 2 years later they break up. The one with the stellar record leaves and the one with horrendous record stays. He/she start to bring derelict friends and partners to the house and start to trash your place. Imagine the resentment you will if you never collected the partner with horrendous record's information to tell you not to rent to them.

2. Take application fee upfront. This weeds out the serious renters from the BSers. A serious tenant with a stellar record is more willing to lose a couple of dollars than one with a terrible record who know they have a high likelihood of not being eligible.

3. If you use mysmartmove.com by Transunion, all of those information is made available to you except the references.