Tried & True Tips for Advanced Tenant Screening

By Utopia Management

Tenant screening is the “lifeblood” of owning any rental property. All San Diego Property management companies and landlords will agree on this, but the problem is that most landlords get into trouble by screening their tenants poorly when those mistakes could be avoided.

Thankfully, tenant screening doesn’t have to be a problem anymore if you follow the tips listed in this article.

Tip #1 – Develop A Screening Process and Stick with It

Regardless if you have a condo for rent or home for rent in Southern California, you have to develop the same screening process for every tenant and stick with that process. Failure to do so means that you might result in haphazard screening and possibly screen a tenant improperly or possibly violate their fair housing rights.

Tip #2 – Request 3 Months-Worth of Pay Stubs and Bank Statements

Although it’s common to ask a potential renter to provide you with 3-months-worth of paycheck stubs, you should also require 3 months-worth of bank statements as well because this will give you the ability to properly track a tenant’s income and confirm if they really make what they say they do or not.

Tip #3 – Make Sure They Fill Out the Entire Rental Application

People who don’t fill out the entire rental application might have something to hide. So before offering a lease to a tenant you should make sure that you have a completed application and have taken the time to verify their information completely.

Tip #4 – Always Run a Background Check on Each Adult

Another great way to make sure that you’re fully aware of who will be renting from you is to run a past tenant history and reference background check on each adult on the rental application. Doing this will ensure that you “cover your bases” and avoid renting to someone who may have something to hide.

Get SoCal Property Management Here

For professional property management in Southern California, contact Utopia Management at (858) 598-1111 or connect with us online through our website.