Tips on vetting new tenants

Noodles7791

Hi Guy's,

My long-term tenants are now looking to buy and have given me notice. They have been really good over the 6 years or so and have only been late with one payment over that period.

I have been quite lucky in the past and like to think I have a good judge of character when it comes to picking tenants. However, I'm looking to minimize the risk of getting a bad tenant in.

Could anyone offer advice on how to properly vet new tenants, please?

Thanks in advance.

[Deleted User]

Don't rely on simple credit checks and references from an old LL (the LL could write the tenant is a perfect tenant because they want rid of them, little you can do if you discover the tenant is a nightmare).

Ask for bank statements to prove they pay their rent and don't have bad spending habits. Look at social media to see what sort of person they are. Visit them in their present property to see if they look after it as you would want your property looked after.

A bit more intrusive than normally considered but when I was a private tenant I always took bank statements with me when viewing properties as I wanted prospective LL's to see I was a good, financially responsible tenant. Some will not like it but it will help you eliminate the sort of tenant you don't want.

Noodles7791

Good advice deannatrois, thanks.

I find social media very useful and have used this technique before.

Smodlet

I think you must be an absolutely amazing person, deanntrois, to offer LLs so much help after the way you have been treated by them. You are an inspiration. This is in no way intended as sarcasm, I mean every word. I just could not be as forgiving as you are.

Whilst I realise it is not fair to judge an entire sector of society by the behaviour of its worst members, I find it difficult not to do so at times.

mchale

Sound's silly but i always ring a perspective tenant on a withheld num, if they dont answer that raises alarm bells with me.

Noodles7791

Hi mchale,

I wouldn't agree with that. I never answer withheld numbers myself..

david1951

mchale wrote: »

Sound's silly but i always ring a perspective tenant on a withheld num, if they dont answer that raises alarm bells with me.

..............why?!

Smodlet

I don't answer withheld numbers either; it's common sense as it is usually some ambulance chaser/scammer. I can think of no reason why an honest, genuine person would need to withhold their number in a domestic situation. Perhaps in business it is different but I would still regard withholding a number as iffy at best, alarming at worst.

It seems I am not alone as the anonymous call reject feature exists. What if your prospective tenants had this feature?

DaftyDuck

I tend to ignore withheld numbers too, and I'm a landlord. I'd delight in selecting tenants as averse as I am to mindless calls from idiot strangers!

Op. Meet them, find out about them, find who they really are, and who you might mutually know. See if they are open and honest. Check them out any and every way you can.

I'm lucky, in that I rent to people who work in the same large group as I work and, if I don't know them already, someone else does and can tell me all about them. I am always choosy as to who I give the keys to, and have always - so far - been rewarded back.

I also tend to meet the prospective tenant twice, once in the presence of some of their friends or employer/ees - which I can manage, given the circumstances.

sal_III

deannatrois wrote: »

Don't rely on simple credit checks and references from an old LL (the LL could write the tenant is a perfect tenant because they want rid of them, little you can do if you discover the tenant is a nightmare).

Ask for bank statements to prove they pay their rent and don't have bad spending habits. Look at social media to see what sort of person they are. Visit them in their present property to see if they look after it as you would want your property looked after.

A bit more intrusive than normally considered but when I was a private tenant I always took bank statements with me when viewing properties as I wanted prospective LL's to see I was a good, financially responsible tenant. Some will not like it but it will help you eliminate the sort of tenant you don't want.

The reference check is to weed out the "bad apples" with poor references. Not to confirm positives, as like you said they might be false.

My bank statement, financial affairs and spending habits are none of my prospective LLs business. I can provide proof of income and/or pay rent in advance. This has been plenty enough for 15 years of renting. Showing my bank statements to a stranger - LOL

Visit me in my current home? Are you mad? GTFO,

What's next? Share family photo albums over a cuppa?

Smodlet

sal_III wrote: »

The reference check is to weed out the "bad apples" with poor references. Not to confirm positives, as like you said they might be false.

My bank statement, financial affairs and spending habits are none of my prospective LLs business. I can provide proof of income and/or pay rent in advance. This has been plenty enough for 15 years of renting. Showing my bank statements to a stranger - LOL

Visit me in my current home? Are you mad? GTFO,

What's next? Share family photo albums over a cuppa?

I am inclined to agree with this but realise this is not a luxury every prospective tenant has. Those on low incomes/who lack guarantors/large deposits and/or in areas of high demand for rental properties may have to resort to complying with these and even more intrusive requirements in order to secure a roof over their heads.