what questions to ask prospective tennant?

tucbiscuit

Hi, I advertised a property privately and am showing someone round later today, now what questions should I ask and what do I need to find out? I have a fair few things down already, but am looking for advice.

also she is dss



thanks

ann99

Three thoughts -

1) Has she given you a reference from her last landlord?
that should indicate she left without any problems.

2) Make sure you have got enough detail from her that
you can trace her if she does a flit.

3) Can she can give good references - doctor/priest etc?

MrShed

Is she moving in with someone else? If so, have they lived together before?

tucbiscuit

thanks so far, all good ones, any more?


she mentioned her mother was local on the phone, I am going to ask for a guarantor (sp?), so hopefully that will work out

chuckles1066

tucbiscuit wrote: »

thanks so far, all good ones, any more?


she mentioned her mother was local on the phone, I am going to ask for a guarantor (sp?), so hopefully that will work out

I assume DSS means they're paying the rent directly to you?

As someone else has pointed out, no reference = no can do...........if they've got no money and they trash your place, suing them's a waste of time.

It's an awful society we live in when you have to think of possibilities like that, the poor girl probably only wants a roof over her head, but sadly you've got to protect your interests......

kunekune

I think it's great that you are considering someone on DSS, a lot of people don't, but of course most people who need DSS are perfectly decent, good tenants. In your position, what I'd be looking for is evidence about her ability to manage her income, and about her attitude towards the house she lives in. For example, if something breaks, you want her to tell you rather than just put up with it. At the same time, you don't want midnight calls because a tap is dripping! Those aren't specific to a DSS tenant, of course, but people who have lived in social housing before might have different attitudes.

chuckles1066

kunekune wrote: »

At the same time, you don't want midnight calls because a tap is dripping!

Or midnight calls from !!!!!! off neighbours saying she's playing Def Leppard music at 213 decibels :mad:

tucbiscuit

she came and looked, she seemed ok, but had 4 kids and a dog........bit too much for a 3 bed house I fear



and when it comes to dss I am not against it, I'll just judge each person as I see them

guppy

What's your house like? If its pristine, I'd be a little nervous about the dog. And the four kids.

Then again, if the tenant has good references then it might not be a problem.

chuckles1066

tucbiscuit wrote: »

she came and looked, she seemed ok, but had 4 kids and a dog........bit too much for a 3 bed house I fear



and when it comes to dss I am not against it, I'll just judge each person as I see them

A good test is to ask her to name three of the fathers..........they usually can't

tucbiscuit

guppy wrote: »

What's your house like? If its pristine, I'd be a little nervous about the dog. And the four kids.

Then again, if the tenant has good references then it might not be a problem.

it's all newly decorated and carpeted, when I said I'd need a landlord reference she said he was on holiday, when I asked how long for she said er.......4 weeks, sounds a bit fishy to me