Tenant Reference Check Questions
One of the biggest challenges of managing a rental property is finding quality tenants. Tenants who pay on time and don't disrupt their neighbors are the dream of any property manager. Finding those people, however, requires checking references. You must ask the right questions of your potential tenant's references to find a quality candidate.
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Is This a Good Time?
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Begin your conversation with a reference by thanking your tenant's reference for his time and asking if you have called at a good time to talk. Reference conversations are short, but your conversation will be most valuable if the person you're calling is not rushed. Allow yourself the opportunity to find out everything you need by offering to call back at another time if she is in a hurry when you call.
What Is the Payment History?
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One of the biggest headaches a property manager faces is a tenant who doesn't pay. Find out if the potential tenant has a history of paying his rent on time. If he fell behind on his rent payments, find out how he handled the situation. Ask if he called to make payment arrangements and whether the arrangements he made were kept.
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Was Any Damage Left Behind?
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Find out if your potential tenant kept the home and yard clean. Ask if any cleaning or repairs were required after the tenant vacated the property. Determine whether maintenance issues were reported promptly. It is important to know your level of risk concerning the conditions you will find after a tenant moves out. A security deposit might not cover all costs for the repair and cleanup required if a tenant isn't considerate when moving out.
Did the Neighbors Complain?
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If the tenant's reference is open to sharing information, ask if she ever received any complaints from the neighbors. Find out if the prospective tenant was known for making a lot of noise or throwing loud parties. Ask if any neighbors ever complained of anti-social behavior or misuse of areas that residents shared.
Did the Tenant Have Any Pets?
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If your policy allows pets, ask if your potential client had any and if so, what type of pets did he have? Did they cause any problems? Find out if they were loud, dangerous to the neighbors or messy.
Why Did the Tenant Leave?
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Finally, determine if the tenant moved out on good terms. His reason for leaving could be a signal of potential future problems. Additionally, find out how much notice was given--ask if the tenant broke his lease or completed it. Gather as much information as possible to help you make an informed decision about whether the candidate is right for you.
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