What landlords in California are Looking for in a Tenant

Finding a good tenant can be a lot like dating. It may be tempting to go with the first applicant who expresses interest, but it’s important to take your time and make sure you’re making the best decision for you and your property.‏

‏First, it is important to screen tenants during the process of picking the right one. Your tenant must be financially responsible and have good credit, otherwise, it’s the same to assume that they might not be reliable with their bills. The best way to screen tenants is to check their credit score and credit history. ‏

‏Good Credit‏

‏First and foremost, you want to choose a tenant with a good credit history. Not only will they have good credit, but you will also be able to review their credit report, which should provide you with reliable information on their payment history. Good credit indicates you are paying your bills on time! It is important to screen your tenants carefully in order to avoid any problems with non-payment. Checking an applicant’s credit history can give you valuable insight into their financial responsibility and help you make a decision about whether or not they would be a good tenant. Here are some things to look for when screening an applicant’s financial history;‏

‏Credit Score‏

‏Late Payments‏

‏Debt‏

‏Good rental history‏

‏If the tenant has a poor rental history, you may want to reconsider renting to them. This can be an indicator that they are not responsible and will most likely not take care of your rental property. Remember that sometimes the last landlord provides inaccurate information about the previous tenants, so it is important to have at least two landlords to speak with.The more references you can have the better! 

‏Stability‏

‏A tenant with a very stable rental and work history is less likely to be late when it comes to paying their rent. It’s also more likely that they will be a long-term leaseholder. By looking at past rental and job history, you can determine whether or not the tenant has a stable life and income. ‏

‏Income/Employment‏

‏It’s best practice for the tenant to provide proof of their income. However, it’s also good to reach out to the tenant’s current employer to verify that they’re currently employed there. Checking a renter’s background and checking for proof of income is one of the most important parts of the screening process when you’re looking for a possible tenant. While checking for their credit score, also look at their debt. If they already have a lot of debt, then they may have other bills that they have to pay for out of your rent each month. This could result in them paying late fees, and might make it hard for you to receive a full, on-time rental payment on time. A potential renter, however, with a low amount of debt and a good income could be a great candidate for your property.‏

‏Lack of Criminal Background‏

‏It’s important to check the criminal history of your potential tenants. The process can be time-consuming, but if you’re running a rental business, background checks are mandatory. In order to check your potential tenant’s background information, you need their name and date of birth. Be sure to verify potential tenants’ IDs to ensure the info they provide is accurate. Criminal information is a public record; however, since there is no nationwide database for criminal records, it can be easier to hire a tenant screening company to search the criminal databases in your state and across the country. ‏

‏Honesty‏

‏It is important to observe the answers of potential tenants and if they are being honest about their past. A trustworthy tenant will not skirt around answers about:‏

‏Their criminal record ‏

‏Their employment‏

‏Their income‏

‏Their rental history. ‏

‏It is important to run reference checks with the information provided to you by the tenant. Criminal background checks can let a landlord know that the tenant isn’t a criminal but, reference checks can provide information on if the tenant is going to be tidy, respect the rental property, and be a good neighbor to others. Just because a tenant is not a criminal, doesn’t mean they are perfect! Also make sure to do as thorough of a character analysis as you can!