There are several tenant screenings services online that can directly charge the applicant a fee, so you don't have to.

I believe some states/cities have protection for hoarders so you want to know about this too.If you do get the property make sure you screen any new residents, and that you have a clear policy on your rental qualifications. 

Can a diligent screening process make these properties work? 

Unless you can hold your contract up to the screen for us to read, I'm not sure what you signed.  

I can take out the drain plug and put in a mesh screen stopper instead, but it doesn't look good.

Since people with disabilities are a protected class, how do you go about screening them and what type of questions can you ask without breaking any laws? 

You may want to be more flexible with your screening criteria.

Each one can be a different phone message if necessary and you can generally screen the calls coming in so you know what type of lead is calling. 

I really need some referrals for property managers with strong tenant screening.

I believe he genuinely enjoys some aspects of being this "hands-on," but our portfolio size occasionally means that there is too much going on at one time (periods of time with lots of turnover, for example) to feel as if we're being proactive with capital projects, maintenance, tenant screening, etc.