During the screening process, landlords and property management companies usually call previous landlords to learn more about prospective tenants. The way they behaved in the last property they rented says a lot about what they will be like as your tenant.
However, there are still tenant screening questions you simply can't ask and others that you must. Does the tenant pay on time? Does the renter keep the unit well-maintained? Is the applicant a good communicator to past landlords? Let’s explore these questions and more together!
Questions to Ask the Previous Landlord
Tenancy Duration
Asking how long the tenant stayed in the rental property will provide insight into an applicant's commitment to the lease agreement. You wouldn't want a renter who habitually breaks their lease early as it would affect your rental business' vacancy rate and rental income.
Payment History
Did the tenant consistently pay rent or were late payments a common occurrence? If the prior landlord mentions that they had trouble with rent collection for that particular tenant, you might want to reject the applicant just to save you from the trouble of going through the same thing.
Rental Property Damage
Ask a previous landlord if the prospective tenant caused any damage to their property, and if so, how did they manage to resolve the issue? Did they pay for the damage they were responsible for? Do they have a history of breaking the rental property of the landlord?
Neighbor Complaints
Some things simply don't show up in your standard tenant screening process, such as the behavior of tenants in their rental units. Ask the applicant's previous landlord if they were involved in frequent complaints or any other disturbances to neighbors due to the tenant's behavior.
Compliance
Did the tenant comply with the rules in the lease agreement? Landlords create rules that a tenant should follow to protect all parties involved. If they didn't follow the rules of the previous landlord, they could violate yours as well.
Proper Notice
A notice is not just the landlord's responsibility but the tenant's as well. If they intend to move out, they need to provide adequate notice before vacating the property so the landlord can arrange for a new tenant.
Unpaid Rent and Other Fees
Ask prior landlords if they resolved outstanding or late rent payments before they left the rental property. While the tenant's monthly rent is considered a factor, the fact remains they did not settle their debts and the previous landlord lost income because of it.
Willingness to Rent to Them Again
You can ask the landlord if they are willing to rent to the applicant again based on the tenant's current behavior. That's usually the case if the tenant can pay rent on time, keeps the property in good condition, and handles all the other responsibilities a renter has.
Questions You Can't Ask Previous Landlords
Familial Status
Landlords or property managers cannot ask about the marital status of a tenant since this is considered protected information. It's also not allowed for the prior landlord to provide that information themselves.
Religion and Race
Just like the tenant's marital status, you also can't ask a previous landlord about a prospective tenant's religion or national origin during a landlord reference check. Renting based on this factor is a violation of the Fair Housing Act regarding protected classes.
Disability
Asking about the applicant's disability or other health conditions also falls under the Fair Housing Act. Unless the information is relevant to the tenant's ability to live in the rental unit, a landlord can't use this as a factor in assessing an applicant.
Gender Identity or Sexual Orientation
Asking the past landlord about a tenant's gender identity or sexual orientation is also considered unethical and discriminatory. Like the previously mentioned topics, this can be detrimental to the tenant screening process as you could land in legal trouble.
The Importance of Asking Key Questions
You Can Make Informed Decisions
Information from prior landlords about their former tenants is crucial to your decision-making process. There's only so much background checks can do for you. While it is reliable data, personal references can be just as impactful.
You Can Verify the Applicant's Answers
It's not uncommon for a potential renter to lie when answering tenant screening questions. Contacting the prior landlord about a former tenant can help you verify their answers to ultimately decide whether the applicant is worth renting to.
Avoid Stressful Situations and Financial Losses
Learning about the bad behavior of an applicant in a reference check can save you the effort of conducting a background check, as well as renting to someone who can't pay on time and commit other violations.
Protect Your Existing Tenants
If your rental property is also the home of several other tenants, you are responsible for creating a peaceful living environment for them. Doing your due diligence will save you from noise complaints and handling disputes caused by your new tenant.
Other Factors to Consider in the Tenant Screening Process
Calling the applicant's former landlord isn’t enough on its own. There are other factors to look into to fully assess the potential tenant. PMI Georgia, for instance, goes beyond the standard tenant screening process that property management companies usually conduct like credit checks.
To Confirm The Applicant's Identity
- Government-Issued Identification
- Social Security Number Verification
To Avoid Payment Issues
- Pre-Screening Income Qualification
- Income Verification
- Employment Verification
To Verify Payment Histories
- Credit Check
- National Eviction Checks
- Public Records Search
- Previous Tenant History
To Ensure Compliance
- National Criminal Background Checks
- National Sex Offender Search
- International Terrorism Database Search
What Else PMI Georgia Has to Offer
We don't just ask the important screening questions for tenants. PMI Georgia also offers services that can help landlords with marketing, collecting a tenant's monthly rent, maintenance issues, repairs, eviction protection, and more.
You can use our free ROI Calculator to gain insight into the financial performance of your property or schedule a consultation with us so we can answer your follow-up questions and help you push your business to its maximum profitability.
