One of the keys to succeed as a landlord is to find great, long-term tenants. And knowing what questions to ask potential tenants is the first step in finding good ones. Even though you may ask industry standard questions on a rental application, a good property manager should also use screening questions to make sure everybody who fills out an application meets the requirements you personally look for in your ideal tenants.
In our experience, we’ve found that there are 8 questions that every landlord should include in their prescreening questionnaire to increase their chances of finding “the one.”
1. “Why are you moving?”
Let’s face it: moving is stressful, and most people will avoid doing so unless they have to. And although it’s true that most people move because they don’t want to extend their current lease, it’s still a good question to ask to learn more about their motivations and their previous behaviour as a renter. You can tell from their response, whether they’re moving for a bad reason, like being evicted from a home, or whether they’re doing so because of work, school, or other changes in their lifestyle.
2. “How long have you lived in your current home?”
Stability is one of the main qualities landlords look for in a tenant, that’s why asking how long their previous and current residencies have lasted is a wise idea. If a tenant has shown a pattern of instability by shifting from one property to another, they most likely will do the same to you, leaving you with a vacancy to fill.
3. “Do you have pets?”
It’s not uncommon that tenants own pets, so this question is a must. But first, you need to determine if you will allow pets on your property. In case you decide you don’t, this question will help dismiss potential rentals before moving forward in the rental process.
And in case you allow pets, you will want to ask what type of animal it is, the breed, the size, and any important behavioural issues to be aware of.
4. “Can you provide references?”
If your potential tenants have rented more than one property in the past, it’s a good idea to ask them to provide at least one landlord reference. In case you’re dealing with first-time renters, you can ask them for employment and personal references. These will give you a better idea of their overall behaviour and reliability.
It can happen that the tenant can’t provide any references, if that’s the case, it is up to you to decide whether to move forward with the application, decline it, or be flexible and ask for other types of references you’re willing to accept, such as credit or bank references.
5. “How many people will be living in the property?”
To avoid unauthorized tenants on your rental property, you will want to know how many people are going to live there in advance. In case you’ll receive multiple tenants, you’ll need to screen everyone listed as co-signer on the rental application.
6. “Do you Smoke?”
This habit can cause damage to the property, and in case it’s a condo unit, it may disturb the neighbours or even go against the condo rules. In case smoking isn’t forbidden per se, you as a landlord are allowed to implement a no-smoking policy inside the property.
By asking this question you have the chance to remind any potential tenants of your policy against smoking within your property while a lease is in effect.
7. “Have you ever been convicted of a crime?”
We’re not referring to a traffic fine, but to a relevant crime. Depending on your situation, you may wish to include this question. Criminal history is a very important aspect to consider in order to ensure you are doing business with a stable, reliable person.
8. “When do you want to move in?”
Last, but not least, you want to know the tenant’s desired moving time for various reasons. Tenants start their rental home search at any time of the year, most of the time depending on their current lease. However, many tenants like to see what’s in the market several months in advance, and aren’t planning on moving immediately, which is something to consider if you want to rent your property as soon as possible.
Knowing your potential tenant’s desired moving date will also help you organize yourself in case the property needs some repairs to make it rental ready.
From our experience, these 8 questions will give you a comprehensive picture of your potential tenants, and will help you choose a long-term tenant that fits your needs. If you’re an independent landlord and you are in charge of the screening process and all the management duties of your property, we have made available a set of Alberta rental forms that will make your life as a landlord much easier. Download them for free here.
