Thoughts on Charging Application Fees

[Grant R.]

There are several methods of screening applications at scale and avoiding the time-wasters. One of them is charging an application fee.

While this can serve to filter out some non-serious applicants, it can also prevent some well-qualified tenants from applying when there are free applications for similar units in the same market.

What your thoughts on the up front app fee? Worth it, or not a good idea?

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landlord property manager owner Indiana Ohio Michigan

[Tracy Streich]

It goes back to getting what you pay for.    Why charge an application fee? Because the fee should be use to pay a legit 3rd part to do a real background check.   These things cost money.   If it cost you money as a owner and you pass the cost along why would you not.   I don't know of any "well qualified" tenants that cannot pay a $30 application fee.