When searching for a new tenant, it’s always advisable to check an applicant’s rental history and talk with their previous landlords to find out what they were like as a tenant. If you’re a first-time landlord, however, this step may seem a bit daunting. How can you verify the applicant’s rental history?
To help you, we’ve created a step-by-step guide, including a list of sample questions you can ask previous landlords to ensure you’re choosing the best applicants for your properties. Please note this is for informational purposes only and is not intended as legal advice. Laws may vary based on your location.
What Does Rental Verification Involve and Why is it Important?
Rental verification involves contacting an applicant’s previous landlord to confirm the rental history provided by the applicant is truthful and accurate. Although screenings like credit checks and background checks can give you insights into an applicant’s financial responsibility, criminal history, and eviction history, they don’t provide information about how a renter behaved as a tenant. Tenant verifications give you first-hand knowledge of the previous landlord’s experience with the applicant.
This is important because it can help you determine if the applicant has been truthful about their rental history. If they’ve falsified some of their information, it could be a red flag; it’s worth reviewing the rest of their application more closely—or in some cases, considering another applicant instead.
In addition, an applicant’s previous landlord can give you valuable information to base your rental decision on, including factors like:
- The applicant’s payment history
- How they escalated maintenance issues and requests
- How they treated the landlord and other tenants
- How well they kept the property maintained
- Whether there were any lease or rental agreement violations
These insights, combined with tenant screening reports, will help you determine whether the applicant is the right fit for your property.
How to Verify an Applicant’s Rental History
There are essentially two ways you can handle rental verifications. You can contact the applicant’s previous landlords directly, or Tenant Screening Center can do it for you. We do traditional rental verifications, which means we contact the landlord directly to get details on the following information:
- The applicant’s current and previous address
- The length of time they lived at each property
- Whether the applicant gave proper notice of their intent to move
- The applicant’s current and previous monthly rent payments
- Whether there have been any late payments, bounced checks, balances owed, complaints on file, or legal notices
- Whether the applicant has any pets
- Whether the applicant would be eligible to re-rent either property
- Verification of the applicant’s current employer
- The length of time the applicant has worked at the company, their position, salary, and employment status (full-time vs. part-time)
For $15.95, you’ll receive a form filled out with the above information. For the most complete information on your applicant, we recommend pairing your tenant verification with a credit report and background check.
If you’d prefer to conduct a tenant verification yourself, here’s a list of questions you should consider asking:
- Can you confirm that the applicant rented from you?
- Did the applicant pay their rent on time?
- Did the applicant keep the rental property clean and well-maintained?
- Did the applicant let you know when something needed repair?
- Was the rental property clean and in good condition when the applicant moved out?
- Was the applicant disruptive or rude to other tenants or neighbors?
- Were any of the terms of the lease or rental application violated?
- Did you offer lease renewal to the tenant?
- Were there any complaints made against the tenant?
- Were there any red flags?
- Would you rent to them again?
- Is there anything else you can tell me about the tenant?
Asking these questions will help you select a tenant who has a proven track record of being a reliable, responsible renter who will take good care of your property.
Get Your Tenant Screening & Verification from Tenant Screening Center
Whether you’re a new landlord or a seasoned pro, tenant screening and verification can take up valuable time if you choose to do them on your own. Save time and get complete peace of mind with tenant screening reports and verifications from Tenant Screening Center. We help streamline the process so you can focus on what’s important: your business. Our verifications are low cost and with RentalConnect, the cost of our screening reports is deferred to your applicants.
Order your tenant screening and verification today, or feel free to call us at 800-523-2381 for more information.
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