Tenant Screening: Is it their prior landlord or best friend?

[Michael Kiley]

You just received an application for your rental. You call the prior landlord and find out your applicant was their best tenant ever and always paid rent early! Things are looking up! But how do you know that this is really the prior landlord and not just their best friend doing them a favor?

[Ned Carey]

@Michael Kiley I agree with @Steve Boianelli plan ahead of the call. Choice questions can trip up a fake landlord pretty quickly. I would add questions like how many bedrooms and bathrooms. How long have they lived there? 

You can even ask something not true and see if they correct your.  "They tenant said it was 6 bedrooms and they really only need three which is why they are moving. Is that correct?"  The tenant said they have know your for years how did you fist meet?

Try also saying, "The tenant gave you as a reference, How do you know the tenant?" You could add the lie here too. The tenant said you have know each other since grade school. If they don't correct and say "No I am the landlord" you have caught them.