Choosing the ideal tenants can be a challenge for rental property owners and landlords who lack a thorough tenant screening process. Asking the right questions is an essential piece of the puzzle, helping you identify unqualified applicants or those who may cause issues during their lease. There are certain questions landlords should ask potential tenants before leasing out their rental properties.
If it is time to find a new tenant for your rental property, our Henderson and Las Vegas property management experts share the top 10 questions landlords should ask potential tenants before moving forward with a potential tenant.
Why Is Tenant Screening Necessary?
Screening tenants is the most important step before leasing your rental home, unit, or condo. Landlords and rental property owners seek tenants who have a steady income, pay rent on time, and who will respect the rental property.
Without a proper screening process in place, landlords may face late rent payments, complaints from neighbors about the tenant, and damage to the rental property. In some cases, landlords may even have to evict the tenant, which can be a costly and time-consuming endeavor.
RELATED: 6 Reasons Why Tenant Screening Is Important
Essential Tenant Screening Questions for Las Vegas Landlords
What questions should you be asking potential tenants in Las Vegas? Here is a comprehensive list of questions landlords should ask potential tenants to start your tenant screening process.
1. How long have you lived in your current residence?
The length of time an applicant has been at their current place can tell you a lot about their financial stability and personal reliability. Frequently hopping from rental to rental could be a red flag, indicating that they may attempt to break their lease agreements early or leave immediately after it expires. This could leave you with a costly vacancy and no rental income until you can fill it again.
2. Why are you looking for a new place to live?
Following up on how long the applicant has been in their current location, you should ask why they are moving. If a tenant failed to pay rent or was asked to leave for any other reason, it is best to know upfront to avoid similar issues.
However, there are many reasons why a qualified tenant may need to move, such as:
- They are relocating for work or school
- They need a bigger living space
- They prefer the neighborhood where your rental property is located
- Their current landlord is selling the rental property
3. What date are you hoping to move in?
The date the applicant wants to move in could exclude them from being considered if your dates do not align. If they want to move in immediately but the rental property will not be vacant for several weeks or even months, it is clearly not a good fit. Likewise, you do not want to hold a vacant rental property for months if the applicant cannot move in right away.
4. How many people will be living with you?
It is also crucial to know how many people are planning to live in the rental property. If the applicant plans to have multiple people living with them, you should request that they go through the official application process and be included in the lease agreement. This will help you avoid conflicts or legal problems.
RELATED: When Does a Guest Become a Tenant?
5. How many pets do you have or plan to have?
If you allow pets in your rental property, confirm the number of animals the applicant has or plans to have and whether it exceeds your limit. Keep in mind that it gets very hot in Henderson and Las Vegas, and these pets will need to be kept inside your rental property. Having too many animals in the rental property can lead to damage and excessive wear and tear on the property.
6. What is your monthly income?
Most landlords have minimum income requirements to ensure the tenant can cover the rent. For example, applicants for rental properties managed by Black & Cherry must make a minimum of 2.5 times the monthly rental amount to be considered. In addition to a credit check, request confirmation of the applicant’s monthly income.
7. How long have you been at your current job?
A solid work history is also a part of proving a steady monthly income. Potential tenants with a strong employment history within the same company or job field may be more financially stable and less likely to experience hardships that affect their ability to pay rent.
8. Have you ever been evicted?
Applicants who have been evicted or legally forced to leave their previous residence may not be the right choice for landlords. It often indicates that they failed to pay rent, were disruptive, or broke their rental agreement in other ways.
Of course, unique circumstances may provide a reasonable explanation for what happened. Try to obtain more details about the eviction, such as when it occurred and the reason for it, before completely ruling out the applicant. This is one of the most important questions landlords should ask potential tenants to vet thoroughly.
9. Are you able to pay the security deposit?
Be transparent about your security deposit requirements and how much you expect the tenant to pay at the lease agreement signing. If they are unable to cover the full amount, it may save you both time and effort to know that before completing the full applicant screening process.
RELATED: 5 Reasons a Landlord Should Not Refund a Security Deposit
10. Can you sign a lease for a set period?
Remember that Henderson and Las Vegas and the surrounding areas are often considered transient cities, which means people come and go more than in other cities. Having a set lease period establishes a fixed term during which the tenant agrees to pay rent to occupy the rental property.
Some renters only want a temporary place to live for a few months. Make sure the applicant is aware of the lease’s start and end dates and can accept the rental terms before moving forward.
Tenant Screening Services at Black & Cherry Property Management
Our Black & Cherry property management team’s goal is to help Las Vegas and Henderson landlords streamline their business and maximize their rental incomes. Utilizing intuitive technology and exceptional customer service, we offer comprehensive property management services, including thorough tenant screening.
Contact our property management team today to learn more about our tenant screening services or to schedule a consultation with our property management team.
