How to Spot a Potential Deadbeat Tenant
Bad tenants cost landlords time and money. Researching potential tenants before they move into rental property will allow a landlord to spot a potential deadbeat before he becomes a tenant. Research potential tenants, or hire a firm that specializes in assessing renters, before you hand over the keys. A little work in the beginning can save a landlord from renting to a deadbeat tenant.
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Instructions
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Demand potential tenants fill out a rental application that includes, but is not limited to, a social security number, name, current address, driver's license number, employer and permission to run a credit check. Rental applications are a landlord's first chance to determine if a tenant will be a deadbeat.
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Ask for personal and rental references. Discover why your potential tenant is moving and call their previous landlord to confirm all answers. Check all personal and employment references provided.
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Interview potential tenants. Appearance, demeanor and attitude can all give a landlord clues to the nature of a potential tenant.
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Run a credit check on any potential tenant, paying close attention to their rental history. Rent payments are not always recorded by credit bureaus, so consider using a company, such as First Advantage SafeRent, that specializes in researching potential tenants (see Resources below). You do not want to turn away someone who may have an excellent rental history but a poor credit history.
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Check public records to determine if your potential tenant is in bankruptcy. Learn about your rights as a creditor before leasing to a tenant who is in the midst of bankruptcy proceedings.
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Review eviction and criminal records to determine if your potential tenant has been the subject of court proceedings. Ask for a detailed explanation before renting to someone who has been previously evicted. Think carefully about leasing to anyone with a significant criminal background.
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Require each tenant to sign a lease agreement when renting to multiple parties. You do not want to discover you only have deadbeats actually signed to a lease.
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