10 Qualities of a Good Tenant

By=20 =09 Julie Aiello =09 May 21, 2018

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It may take= a little time and patience, but it=E2=80=99s worth putting the right tenan= t in your apartment rental. Luckily, there are things to look for in potent= ial renters, and keeping an eye out for them will help make the process eas= ier. Consider these 10 qualities when deciding who to choose as your tenant= .

1. Credit and Criminal History Check

The first, a= nd arguably most important, thing to do is to screen your potential tenant, which will include looking at their credit score as well as thei= r criminal and eviction history. A clean criminal or eviction history might= be an indicator that this person will be a good renter, and the same goes = for their financial information.

In the credi= t check, you=E2=80=99ll be able to see their credit cards, accounts, lines = of credit, and if they=E2=80=99ve ever been sent to collections. A good ten= ant will have a fairly straightforward and clean looking credit history. Al= though it varies among the three different credit bureaus, a credit score bet= ween 670-800 is considered good, with 800 being the highest possible score.=

2. Respectful of Your Time

If you=E2=80= =99ve set up a tour of the unit, you should expect your potential renter to= be early or at least on time to the appointment. Arriving late and having = an excuse for doing so shows that the person doesn=E2=80=99t respect your t= ime. You likely have a few different prospects looking at the unit, and you= =E2=80=99d probably rather have one who shows a mutual respect. Starting yo= ur landlord-tenant relationship on the right foot is important, and being l= ate to appointments is not the way to do it.

3. Polite During the Interview

Having a fac= e-to-face, sit down =E2=80=9Cinterview=E2=80=9D with a potential renter is = a good time to gauge that person=E2=80=99s personality traits. Do they answ= er your questions in a polite way? Are they argumentative when asked a ques= tion they don=E2=80=99t like? Do they get quarrelsome or defensive during t= he interview? Take note of any personality traits that they display during = the interview; remember that you will have an ongoing relationship with thi= s person, and if your personalities clash, it might not be a good fit.

4. Provide Documents to You in a Timely Fashion=

If a prospec= t gets their application filled out, background check paid for, and references sent to you w= ithin a day or two, you might have yourself a good tenant. The faster they = get their documents to you, the better. It shows that they are serious abou= t signing the lease and don=E2=80=99t want to waste your time or theirs sho= pping around at other places. Set a time frame and expect that they will ge= t their documents to you within it.

5. Stable Job

When you gat= her their personal information, job history should be one thing to look at = closely. If they=E2=80=99ve been at their current employer for a few years = or held a few different roles within the same company, that=E2=80=99s a goo= d sign. Having a consistent job signifies that they have a steady income an= d are financially stable, two things that make a great tenant.

6. Respond Promptly

People who r= eturn your phone calls and emails promptly usually make good tenants. If yo= u have to wait a few days or weeks for them to respond to even a non-urgent= matter, they probably don=E2=80=99t value this living situation as much as= you=E2=80=99d like. Having a renter who is responsive and willing to work = with you efficiently is a great sign.

7. Doesn=E2=80=99t Make Financial Excuses

If you=E2=80= =99ve found something a bit off in their credit check, you might want to as= k about it in the face-to-face interview. If the prospective renter answers= the tough questions in a straightforward, upfront way, it may set your min= d at ease. If they skirt around the questions or seem to have multiple excu= ses for their financial troubles, they might not be the right tenant for yo= ur rental.

8. Good References

Doing your d= ue diligence and calling previous landlords and personal references is important when deciding whether or not= you=E2=80=99ve found a good tenant. Past landlords have nothing to lose by= speaking about their old tenants, and if a landlord speaks highly or posit= ively of them, that person is probably going to be a good renter. Speaking = to employers, friends, and other personal references is a great way to gain= insight into who this person is outside of being a tenant.

9. Long Term Plans to Live in Unit

Sure, a year-long lease is a great start, but= you=E2=80=99d love for a tenant to rent the unit for as long as possible. = It can be difficult to know whether a tenant will want to l extend the init= ial lease terms, but some people do express long term plans. The more commi= tted a person seems to living there for multiple years, the more likely the= y are to be as invested in care and maintenance of the rental as you are.

10. They Ask You Questions, Too

Making sure = you=E2=80=99ve asked all the right questions and covered all your bases is = crucial to the rental process, but don=E2=80=99t forget that your prospecti= ve renter should want to know about you, too. A good tenant will want to kn= ow your history as a landlord, if this is your only job, how much time you = dedicate to your rentals, and a variety of other things. The more they want= to know about you as a landlord, the better.

There=E2=80= =99s no one way to know if you have found the perfect renter, but these qua= lities can be good indicators. Take the time to review all application mate= rials, dive into their personal and financial background, and pay attention= to mannerisms and character traits; you=E2=80=99ll find a good tenant in n= o time.

Zumper Pro makes it easy to post rentals and screen ten= ants. Our screening comes complete with a rental application, and an Experi= an credit report with nationwide eviction and criminal. Even better, it=E2= =80=99s all completely free.

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