How to Properly Check Tenant References

When you ask a prospective tenant to apply to your rental property, you should ask for references.

• Current and previous employers
• Current and previous landlords

You can ask for references up to three years back to be extra thorough. It’s a good idea to reach out to several references to make sure you are getting a consistent story. 

By calling landlord and employer references, you are avoiding two of the five tenant screening mistakes that landlords commonly make.

When you ask for references’ information, you should collect a name, phone number, and email address. It’s better to call instead of email, however, so that you can hear tone of voice and get an off-the-cuff reply.

Questions to Ask Employers

When you first speak to a reference, you should double check that you are speaking to the right person. You should ask if he or she is the tenant’s supervisor. Then, verify the tenant’s salary and how long he or she has been working there. You can ask general questions to get an idea of the applicant’s responsibility level and consistency as an employee.

When you are speaking to a previous employer, you should ask the same questions, but also ask why the applicant left the job.

Questions to Ask Current and Prior Landlords

You should ask prior landlords if the tenant paid rent on time consistently. Was there ever a late payment? Was there any damage to the property? Did the landlord ever file court papers against this tenant?

It’s beneficial to ask about ‘court papers’ and not an eviction because sometimes court filings are settled before resulting in an eviction. Any court action is a huge red flag.

On your application, you can also ask the rent price of his or her’s previous rentals. Once you have a prior landlord on the phone, you should confirm the address and then ask, “The rent price is listed here as $1,000 is that correct?” You should confirm the wrong rent price so that the landlord can correct you. This is a technique to help you spot fake references. 

Keep in mind that this isn’t a foolproof technique, as some landlords have multiple properties and may not remember the correct price for every rental from longer than a year ago.

Why It’s Not Enough to Talk to a Tenant’s Current Landlord

Current landlords may have an incentive to lie to you. If the tenant is a nuisance, the landlord will want to get rid of him or her.

A current landlord may tell you that he or she always pays on time when that is not the case, just to help the tenant find a new place to move to.

This is why it’s best to always call a tenant’s previous landlord or even two previous landlords. The more information you can collect, the more educated your decision will be when you decide to accept or deny an applicant.

Conclusion

Calling a tenant’s references is a commonly skipped tenant screening technique. There are many benefits of checking your tenant’s references. For one, you can verify important information, like income level. You can also get a feel for how responsible he or she will be as a tenant. If they are a longstanding employee at a great job with more than enough income to pay monthly rent and deposits, then you’ve found a great applicant.

Being thorough is the best way to find quality tenants who are responsible for paying rent on time and not damaging your property.

Want to add your input? Tell us what you ask employers and prior landlords and how you spot a fake reference.