Top 10 Reasons Landlords Should Reject an Applicant
It’s costly and time-consuming to get rid of problem tenants. Don’t take the gamble when it comes to turning over the keys to one of your most prized possessions — your rental property.
Here are some warning signs of applicants you may want to toss back:
1. Lack of income for the property. Hopes springs eternal for some candidates as they juggle multiple bills but want to get into their dream property. Set standards for needed income, or face the possibility of chronically late rent payments.
2. A dangerous criminal history. Always check an applicant’s criminal history and avoid anyone with a violent past, or crimes that could damage your property. That puts you and your property at immediate risk, as you may be sued for subsequent injuries, or held to account for drug or other criminal activities on the property.
3. A prior eviction. This applicant may as well be wearing a sign that says, “I don’t care about ripping you off.” This is someone who defaulted on their lease, but would not make good on it by moving out voluntarily. Evictions kill profits, and you can’t afford to take the risk.
4. Bad credit. Always check the tenant’s credit history to see how they manage their money. Many landlords set a standard score threshold, or, you could look for bad signs like late payment history.
5. Incomplete application. Someone who won’t fill out the complete rental application should be turned away. It’s a sign of false identity, a bad history, or just plain apathy. Either way, this is not the right applicant for you.
6. The applicant is needy, demanding. If your very first interactions with this tenant leave you wanting to pull out your hair, just imagine what it will be like when they have a legal right to the property. Save yourself the headaches.
7. The references are negative or defensive. Read between the lines when a reference has little to say about the candidate, so long as that information is relevant to the rental relationship. Be specific about questions you ask other landlords. Pin them down about potential problems that may be repeated.
8. Applicant is moving mid-lease. If the rental application shows the applicant is looking for a place well in advance of their expected lease termination, this may be someone who will repeat the pattern. Find out more before you get into trouble.
9. The applicant is not likely to follow your rules. If you smell cigarette smoke on a candidate who is renting a non-smoking unit, or the applicant is covered in cat hair but swears they don’t own a pet, you have a problem. Casual liars make bad tenants.
10. Too many occupants. You have to follow the law when it comes to local zoning. So do the tenants. Be on guard for the bait-and-switch — a tenant who rents in their name, then moves in all of their friends. Speak with other landlords, and apply common sense. A word of caution: don’t reject families with children on occupancy unless you are sure you have met the standards of the Fair Housing Act and your state’s discrimination laws.
American Apartment Owners Association offers discounts on products and services for all your property management needs. Find out more at www.joinaaoa.org.
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