The 7 Questions You Should Ask Potential Tenants

Part of your tenant screening process should be asking important questions. By asking these questions up front, you can save yourself from wasting time on unqualified candidates and can move other people on to full credit, background, and eviction checks. 

Use these seven questions to pre-screen potential tenants. Remember, always follow local laws and regulations as well as the federal Fair Housing Laws when screening tenants.

Are you looking for a rental for yourself or someone else?

1. Acceptable Answers: While there is nothing wrong with someone having help from a friend or family member when rental shopping, you will want to speak to the actual applicant early-on. If they tell you they are shopping for someone else, ask to get in touch with the person who would be applying.
2. Red Flags: If someone is searching on behalf of a friend or family member, and the actual applicant refuses to have contact with you, proceed with caution. A qualified tenant should have nothing to hide.

Why are you looking for a new place to live?

1. Acceptable Answers: There are a variety of valid reasons for someone to be relocating. Some of these answers might be, "I'm relocating for my job." "We wanted a bigger place." "We wanted to live in this part of town." Look for a reasonable and logical answer.
2. Red Flags: If someone tells you they are being evicted or spends the entire time complaining about their current landlord and home, you will want to proceed with caution. Watch out for someone who evades this question, as it could be due to an eviction.

What is your planned move-in date?

1. Acceptable Answers: Anywhere from 10-90 days is suitable and hopefully matches up with the date available you have listed. Responsible tenants will be searching ahead for their next place to live. 
2. Red Flags: If the applicant tells you they need to move in right away, be wary. Someone who needs a place that day or that weekend may be facing an eviction or lacks the responsibility to plan ahead.

How many people will be living with you?

1. Acceptable Answers: According to the department of Housing and Urban Development, 2 people max per bedroom is a generally accepted federal guideline. There are local and state laws about occupancy limits as well, so be sure you check the regulations in your area. For example, in Fort Collins, Colorado, there is a regulation called "U plus 2" which dictates the occupancy limits of unrelated tenants.
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3. Red Flags: If an applicant tells you they will be moving in with a slew of roommates, you will want to check with occupancy laws. You should also be wary of anyone who tells you, "but they will just be staying briefly" or makes up another excuse as to why their high number isn't going to be permanent. 

What’s your current monthly income?

1. Acceptable Answers: As a general rule of thumb, your prospective tenants should pull in at least 2.5-3 times what the rent costs. This buffer will allow them to meet other costs of living as well. While it is a good thing to ask up front, you will need to double check the accuracy of their answer further in the screening process.
2. Red Flags: If an applicant doesn't make enough income or flounders with this question and explains how they piece together their income, you might want to move on. When it comes down to purchasing food or paying rent, they are going to choose food and put off paying rent. Avoid an eviction by only accepting applicants with a high enough income level.

Can you provide employer and landlord references?

1. Acceptable Answers: If a tenant agrees to providing these references, they likely don't have anything to hide and by calling references later on, you can gain a better understanding of the tenant.
2. Red Flags: If they explain why their employer or landlord would give an unfair reference or simply refuse to provide any references, you should move on to a more qualified tenant. Generally, when people are making excuses for why a reference would give them a bad rap, they are trying to cover up the truth.

Are you willing to submit a credit and background check?

1. Acceptable Answers: It should not come as a shock to an applicant that you may request a credit and background check down the road. If they are ok with submitting to this, they are likely not worried about covering up anything from their past.
2. Red Flags: If they offer up excuses at the mention of a credit and background check, you should probably walk away from this applicant. Even someone with a few dings on their record will usually be fine with having a screening report run as they know they can explain themselves. However, someone with a terrible credit score or bad background will be unwilling to submit to these checks. 

What about you? What questions do you ask tenants before formally screening them?