Property Manager Hidden Hills
Top 7 commonly used screening techniques:
1. Income Verification
Does the tenant make enough money? Many landlords look for a tenant to make at least two and a half to three times the monthly rent in gross income. The higher the requirement, the lower the risk. This is usually verified through tax returns, bank statements, paystubs and/or contacting an employer.
Depending on your market, its important to not have too high of a income requirement because this does limit the amount of people who qualify to live in your rental property.
2. Criminal Background Checks
What has the tenant really been up to the past couple of years? Some renters may have a reputation of violating local laws and while others may have an extensive history of going in and out of jail. There are some places that offer different tax advantages or subsidies for allowing convicted felons to lease out a property. While this may be an indicator of past behavior, its not always a great indicator of whether or not a tenant is qualified.
Does the tenant’s criminal record and history really tell you whether or not they will be able to meet their obligations? After all, everyone needs a place to sleep and in most cases, would a drug dealer really want people stopping off at their house where their kids and family sleep? Let’s be honest now, does a landlord really care where the rent money comes from? They might, but they might not. These are some different things to think about especially considering the type of tenants who are attracted to the property based on the location.
3. Rental History
This is probably one of the most important areas because this tells property owners how the tenant has performed in the past. Prior landlords will share more the others, but this generally gives you an idea of what to expect. There are some cases where rental history is not available. Whether its a person or business who owned their owner property previously or this is the first time renting, this has to be taken into strong consideration and it may warranty additional security deposit.
4. Credit Reports
There are different types of debts; voluntary and involuntary. Someone who willfully enters into an agreement such as a loan or credit card generally did so intentionally. If their credit is riddled with poor payment history or some of the more applicable items such as outstanding utility bills show up, these are red flags that should be considered. After all, how can they turn the power or gas on if they have an outstanding balance? Alternatively, the most common form of involuntary debt is medical expenses. Tenants cannot control if they get sick or caught up in an accident. They do have an obligation to pay them, but property managers often times give these types of debts less consideration when comparing them to loans or credit cards that a tenant knowingly signs up for.
5. Credit Scores
The score is directly impacted by what is on the report. Some property owners do not factor in involuntary debts such as medical expenses, but they do factor in the score. So while they may not increase the required deposit based on the items listed in the report, they may require it depending on the score.
6. Bankruptcies, Evictions and Judgments
These are another area that will shed some light on the renters past behavior. An eviction or outstanding judgment for money owed to a landlord is an obvious sign to pass on the tenant, require a large deposit, or request them to pay a year in advance. Some states or countries regulate the amount of money that can be paid when leasing out property and for tenants, this can be challenging if there are strict laws limiting the amount that can be collected. If your limited in the amount of deposit that is required, then the landlord is less likely to rent to a high risk tenant since they cannot offset this risk with a high deposit.
7. The “Gut Feeling”
As technology advances, many investors have shifted away from face to face screening methods. This is done for a variety of different reasons; efficiency, concerns over discrimination, and a general worry that staff members may not be able to get a good read on someone. While these are all legitimate reasons not to rely on a person’s “gut feeling” it can prove to be a valuable too. After all, you can’t always predict how a person will be on paper and meeting them face to face may shed some light on who that person or company is which may set off some red flags that could help you avoid a bad tenant.
A well balanced screening method can help a property owner manage their risk while. Be careful not to be too strict to scare tenants away, but firm enough to weed out those undesirable tenants.
From: https://www.certifiedps.com
Carnahan Property Management Services Woodland Hills,West Hills,Bell Canyon, Hidden Hills, Calabasas, Canoga Park, Tarzana, Reseda, Topanga, Encino, Northridge, Van Nuys, North Hills,Chatsworth, Sherman Oaks, Studio City, North Hollywood, West Hollywood, San Fernando Valley, Granada Hills, Mission Hills, Simi Valley, WestLake Village, Agoura, Toluca Lake, Valley Village, Burbank. Call us at (818) 884-1500
