Important Details To Scrutinize In A Tenant Screening Report

By Peter Price


All landlords understand the importance of making profit from rental property. While a small percentage of them experience few issues with tenants, many often experience deep challenges such as late payments and defaults. If you own property and are looking to lease it, it is important to request for a tenant screening report before agreeing to lease.

Screening is a process that property owners use to evaluate prospective customers. This is usually aimed at evaluating the likelihood of a tenant to meet his obligations as per his lease agreement. These days, it is standard procedure when renting high value property.

Knowing the right things to evaluate in a report is crucial if you are to make anything meaningful out of it. The first highlight to check out is eviction history. This is a crucial highlight as it will give you information about the character of the individual and what expectations to have of him. You should prod this aspect further if the individual has a long record of evictions.

It is vital to evaluate the payment history of the individual as well. In light of the fact that many property owners have mortgages to finance, it is imperative that you make your repayments on time. If you rely on your rental income to service your mortgage, you need someone who can help you fulfill this obligation. Ensure the individual has an impressive payment history before moving forward.

Most landlords in the US look out for history of criminal conviction when evaluating tenants. This is something you need to do as well. Other tenants in your block should feel and be safe at all times. For instance, it would be irresponsible of you to let a convicted child sex offender rent an apartment right next to a family with little kids. If for any reason you have to do so, you must inform the neighbors about it in advance.

Getting a credit evaluation is prudent too. It will help you evaluate the financial capacity of the prospective tenant to fulfill his obligation. Make sure the evaluation includes details about active debts and missed payments. If you are lucky enough and get a client who is not heavily indebted, you should have a smooth relationship with him.

When evaluating, also check the rating given to the person by other property managers. There are several websites and apps that allow landlords to rate tenants. Analyzing this information will help you ascertain the level of risk you are likely to be involved in. There are smart tools that also go as far as predicting the chances of eviction and rent defaults.

Analyzing these details will ultimately help you find the best client for your rental space. Research shows that a large percentage of landlords who proceed to rent their property without conducting due diligence end up disappointed. You should not be part of this statistic. At a small fee, you can find a firm that can offer you the feedback you need to make a wise decision.




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