Prospective Tenant Initial Screening Questions

[Ryan Canfield]

Hello,

My wife and I use the following questions to initially screen prospective tenants prior to showing them one of our units.  What questions does everyone else use?

Can you please tell me why are you moving from your current home?

Can you please confirm that the individuals renting earn a combined 3 times the rent amount?

Would you be willing to submit references from your former landlords and current employer if accepted?

Would you submit a rental application and consent to a background & credit check? ($35/person)

How many people would be living in the apartment?

[Gail K.]

I've found if applicants begin asking me "what do you look for when you run the credit check?" they are very likely already screening themselves out of the property.  In other words, they either know their credit history is dismal and/or their FICO score is lower than a snails belly button.