FREE 10+ Tenant Screening Checklist Samples in PDF

Getting and choosing the right tenant is not as easy as you think. To choose the right one, you have to consider a lot of measures and factors. An income-generating property’s success is determined by the kind of tenants who live there. If you have encountered a good tenant, you won’t have to worry about your property or the rent payment. However, a bad tenant will give you a lot of stress. That is why it is better to screen your tenant first before letting them enter your property. As a landlord, how would you screen your potential tenants? Our downloadable tenant screening checklist template is ready to help you. Scroll down and learn more about this topic below.

FREE 10+ Tenant Screening Checklist Samples

1. Tenant Screening Checklist Template

2. Rent Screening Checklist

3. Tenant Screening Checklist

4. Tenant Screening Checklist Format

5. Applicant Screening Checklist

6. Real-Time Tenant Screening Checklist

7. Tenancy Application Checklist

8. Format of Tenant Screening Checklist

9. Tenant Screening Checklist Sample

10. Prospective Tenant Checklist

11. Potential Tenant Screening Checklist

What Is a Tenant Screening?

Tenant screening is a method that landlords and property owners use to assess possible tenants. The purpose of this method is to assess the probability that the occupant will comply with the terms of the lease or rental agreement and take great care of the rental property as well. The process will help landlords and property owners to decide whether to accept the applicant, approve the application with conditions, or refuse the tenancy. Also, doing this process will give a lot of benefits to the property and you as well.

How to Screen Potential Tenants?

Identifying the right tenant is difficult than you think. Many tenants act like they are the best tenant in the world during an initial walk-through. But if you want to ensure you’re choosing the correct tenant before allowing them to sign a contract, it’s important to screen any potential tenant thoroughly. The challenge is how you would screen potential tenants? Here are some of the tips that can help you:

1. Ask an Application

Start by letting every tenant fill an application. It is where you gather data such as current and former landlords, job experiences, references, and previous evictions. Ask the potential tenant to fill the form and return it to you. Before you start screening, check it to ensure that the tenant has not omitted any details. Missing data may be a red flag that the tenant might be attempting to hide something.

2. Check Credit History

If your potential tenant has a great credit score, you can assume that they can pay the rent on time. One of the most important criteria when evaluating the tenant’s capability and willingness to pay rent is their credit score. A high credit score reflects a strong financial history of making payments on time, so it is more likely that a tenant with good credit can pay you on time.

3. Do a Background Check 

It is also better if you do a background check of your potential tenant. A background check will provide you with clear information about the tenant’s history. Many companies offer investigative services for a fee and can give you a history of eviction, criminal records, credit history, and various government records. You can usually request these records using the social security number of the renter.

4. Call Previous Landlords

If you want to ensure you choose the right tenant for your property, you can contact their previous landlords and ask about their experience with the tenant. You also have to dig a little deeper to get a proper understanding of the tenant. If you don’t want to violate the privacy of anyone, ask the basic questions.

5. Call Tenant’s Employer

If you want to make sure that your tenant has a stable job and a reliable income, you can ask the tenant to give you a copy of a recent payroll or payslip, or you can call the employer to learn more. Bear in mind that not all employers will give out details or private information of their employees. But, they can inform you whether the tenant is an existing employee or not.

6. Conduct an Interview With the Tenant

After doing background checks, you may want to consider doing a short interview with the tenant. Most of the time, you focus more on the property when you show the property to the tenant. By doing short interviews over the phone or face-to-face, you can found out more about them and their lifestyle.

FAQs

Choosing the right tenant for your property can give you a lot of benefits. That is why it is very crucial to conduct tenant screening before anything else. But screening a potential tenant is very much a hassle. So, you better use a great checklist to help you make it easier. We have shared our downloadable tenant screening checklist to help you get started. What are you waiting for? Download it now!