Approving renters for your properties can feel like walking through a haunted house. You might think you know what to expect, but there’s always going to be something just around the corner that takes you by surprise. 

Late or missed rental payments, property damage, or just overall unpleasant renters are common leasing issues, but they’re all avoidable problems. Asking the right questions and diving deeper into who your potential renters are can help you avoid approving renters that might surprise you with problems down the line. 

The key is to ask the right questions. This article provides the essential tenant screening questions you must ask every applicant. By the end, you’ll be armed with the exact questions to ask to get all the information you need to make fully-informed leasing decisions.

The Importance of Asking the Right Tenant Screening Questions

Before we dive into the top questions you should ask your potential tenants, let’s establish some baseline information. What is tenant screening?

Essentially, tenant screening is the process of evaluating applicants to determine if they would make good tenants for a rental property. Asking the right questions during the screening process can help you make informed decisions about who to rent to, and avoid bringing in tenants that may not treat your property the right way.

Related Read: How to Screen Tenants for Your Rental Property: 10-Step Guide

Essential tenant screening questions cover a range of topics, including number of occupants, employment and income, rental history, and pet information.

Here are 4 essential screening questions to ask every applicant:

4 Essential Tenant Screening Questions

1. What is your source of income?

2. Have you ever been evicted or had a lease terminated early?

3. May I check your references from your current and previous landlords?

4. Do you have any pets? If so, do they comply with the pet policy?

1. What is your source of income?

The reasons for asking this question are likely obvious to most leasing agents. Simply put, a tenant who has a steady source of income is more likely to be able to afford the rent and pay it on time. This information can also be used to verify the tenant's income and ensure that it is sufficient to cover the monthly rent. 

Additionally, this allows you to evaluate the tenant’s financial stability and assess their ability to fulfill their rental obligations, ultimately helping you select reliable and responsible tenants.

By verifying employment and income, owners can feel more confident in their decision to rent to a particular tenant and avoid potential financial losses in the future. Asking this question will also help build trust between you and the potential tenant, as you can verify the validity of their answers.

Intellirent makes this process easy by giving you instant access to an applicant’s most recent employment status and income. Our solution offers insights on employment history, pay stubs, and employment verification as part of our trusted screening process.

2. Have you ever been evicted or had a lease terminated early?

A history of eviction or early lease termination can indicate that the tenant has had problems paying rent, following rules and regulations, or maintaining a positive relationship with previous leasing agents. A history of eviction can harm a tenant’s credit score and affect their ability to find housing in the future.

This information can help landlords make informed decisions about whether to rent to a particular tenant and avoid potential problems in the future. It can also be potentially difficult to obtain this information, as you have to rely on the word of previous landlords.

Intellirent improves this process by verifying rental history without you having to contact anyone. Save time waiting for responses, and get visibility into your applicants' true rental history. 

When screening, make sure to do your best to connect the dots. If an applicant says yes to previous evictions, give them an opportunity to explain why. If the applicant says no and an eviction shows up in their background check, this can be a red flag, not only because of the eviction itself, but because the applicant was untruthful. 

3. May I check your references from your current and previous landlords?

One of the most critical aspects of the tenant screening process is asking for references from the applicant's previous and current landlords. Asking for references from a potential tenant’s current and previous landlords can provide you with important information about the tenant's past behavior as a renter. 

Speaking with previous landlords can provide a better understanding of the tenant's rental history, such as their payment history, their level of responsibility, and their ability to follow rules and regulations. 

It is crucial to obtain signed consent from the rental applicant prior to checking their references, this helps maintain clear communication with your applications while fostering a positive and trustworthy relationship.

This information can be valuable in determining the tenant's potential for future success as a tenant. A positive reference from a previous landlord can indicate that the renter is likely to be a responsible and reliable renter.

4. Do you have any pets? If so, do they comply with the pet policy?

Pet restrictions are a common pain point for renters and leasing agents alike, and it’s important to identify if the tenants have any pets outside of the pet restrictions. Asking about pets is an essential part of the tenant screening process because it helps determine the renter’s compliance with pet related rules and regulations.

By asking about pets upfront, you can ensure that the renter is aware of and willing to comply with these policies. This can help prevent potential disputes or damage to the rental property caused by pets.

Having this information in advance can help ensure a positive rental experience for all parties involved.

Minimizing Risks and Maximizing Returns: The Vital Role of Thorough Tenant Screening Questions

The success of your rental property relies heavily on the tenants you chose to rent to. Thorough tenant screening questions can be the difference between choosing responsible, reliable tenants and renters who cause problems and fail to pay rent on time. 

With Intellirent’s online tenant screening process, you can gain valuable insight into potential tenants and make informed decisions about who to rent to. Our customizable rental application includes questions that can help you understand a tenant’s rental history, their ability to pay rent, and their level of responsibility as a renter.

By asking the right questions during the screening process, you can assess a tenant’s ability to meet their financial obligations and their potential for causing problems. This information can help you avoid costly evictions and minimize the risk of property damage. 

Intellirent helps you customize your rental application, automate repetitive tasks, and gain valuable insights into potential tenants, making informed decisions about who to rent to. Book an online tour to see our solution in action today!