Choosing Your Tenants Wisely…

Make sure to always consider these factors when choosing the right tenant! 

Criminal History

• Perform a thorough screening and background check
• Be aware of convictions related to drug offenses, sex offenses, or violent crimes
• It is the owner's responsibility to ensure no illegal activity is occurring on the property

Credit Score

• Perform a credit report
• Look for tenants with credit scores higher than 600 (ideally between 700 and 800)
• Credit history and public records are the most important categories of the credit report 

Eviction History

• Could be a result of property damage, rude behavior, or late payments 
• Represents the moral character of a tenant and their seriousness toward obligations 
• Check references and speak with previous landlords

Employment History

• Call current and former employers to evaluate tenant's employement history 
• Fragmented and irregular employment history is not a good sign 
• The main resource for discovering if a tenant has a reliable source of income to cover living expenses and rent 

Dishonesty

• A tenant who lies on the application (fake income estimates, inaccurate employment history, counterfeit references, etc.) should be dismissed immediately 
• An ideal tenant is honest, reliable, and friendly