As a landlord, one of the hardest parts of the job is deciding who to rent your property to. After all, just as there are good and bad landlords, there are good and bad tenants. You want to avoid the drama and problems that come along with bad tenants.
But how can you tell who the good tenants are? Fortunately, there are certain things you can keep an eye out for.
Stability and rental history
The Balance looks into the best ways to choose good tenants for your property. First, rental history is crucial. This way, you can see whether the renter paid their rent on time and if they gave at least 30 days of notice before moving out. Good tenants also often treat their neighbors well, keep the apartment clean and do not damage the appliances within it.
Next, look for stability. A strong job history and steady income both are signs a tenant may stick around for quite a while, which is what you want. A history of frequent moves or recent unemployment could indicate the pattern will continue. This will leave you looking for another tenant before you know it.
Financial responsibility
Their credit score will tell you a lot about their financial and overall responsibility, too. You want someone who will pay on time, including both rent and utility bills. Responsibility reflected in a good credit score often means they will take care of the apartment, too.
Finally, trust your gut. Your screening could indicate a good candidate, but if something just feels off about it, you may want to trust your instinct. It could end up helping you out.
