Moving into a new rental is always an exciting time, whether it’s your first or the next of many. However, alongside the excitement may also be some level of stress. For example, the tenant screening process can cause anxiety levels to spike, especially if you’re not sure what to expect.
Not being prepared for the screening process can cause you to miss out on your dream house for rent, so it’s essential to be prepared. In this guide, we’ll discuss what landlords are typically looking for when screening tenants so you can be one step ahead of the competition.
How Long Does the Tenant Screening Process Last?
The tenant screening process can take anywhere from a few hours to a few weeks. That’s quite a drastic time frame and it’s reliant on several factors. For example, some landlords only ask for the very basics, which will speed up the process considerably.
Others will be far more stringent, so the process will inevitably take longer. Time can also be saved when the landlord automates the process, whereas doing everything themselves can slow things down.
Another key factor is how quickly the tenant can provide the required references, paperwork, and verifications. The quicker you can submit your data, the more attractive you’ll be to the landlord. So, let’s take a good look at what you should generally prepare.
Paperwork To Prepare
A good landlord will generally be quite thorough when screening tenants. Essentially, they want to find a tenant who is easy to get along with and communicate with, and who won’t have any trouble keeping up with the payments. As long as you can prove that you’re that tenant, you’ll have no problems finding a rental.
The first step is to have your paperwork in order. Here’s what you’ll typically be asked to provide.
1. Proof of Income
For many landlords, their number one concern is that the tenant will be able to keep up with rental payments. As such, they’ll typically ask you to provide proof of income to verify that you’re good for the money owed. Be prepared to show a potential landlord the following:
- Tax returns,
- Pay stubs,
- Bank statements.
To ensure you fly through the screening process, you should ideally be earning at least three times the rent cost each month. Landlords are typically wary of tenants whose rent would make up more than 30% of their income, as this could easily lead to financial difficulties in the future. So, if your numbers don’t add up, you may need to look for a more affordable rental.
2. Employment History
As well as proof of income, many landlords will want to look at your employment history to verify your financial stability. This is particularly true for long-term rentals since you’ll be committing to at least 12 months of rent payments. For the most part, a tenant who can prove a period of long and steady employment will be more attractive than one who has switched jobs frequently or has large gaps of unemployment.
3. Credit Score
Your credit score is another thing that landlords will typically want to examine. Along with our proof of income, it can provide evidence of your financial responsibility and lets the landlord know whether you’re likely to keep up with rent payments or not.
The higher your credit score, the more desirable you’ll be as a tenant. In general, your credit score should be at least 650, though the higher the better.
References to Provide
Before they rent their unit to you, many landlords will want to know a little more than just your financial situation. Providing relevant references will help them get to know you better and enable them to figure out if you’ll be a good fit.
Generally, it’s worth providing the following:
- References from previous landlords: this recommendation letter can let your new landlord know that you always paid your rent on time, communicated effectively, and left your previous rental in good condition.
- Personal references: typically provided by an employer, doctor, or teacher, personal references enable your future landlord to get a more intimate view of your character traits.
Having written references prepared in advance can speed up the screening process, but it’s also good to provide contact details, as many landlords will want to speak with your references in person.
The Tenant Background Check
In both Canada and the U.S., landlords can use online services to run a tenant background check on any applicant. These services vary from providing basic information to performing comprehensive background checks. In general, they’ll provide information pertaining to your previous address history, whether you’ve been evicted before, and a criminal background check.
It’s worth being open and honest about anything that may be revealed in the check, and landlords will appreciate it if you’re upfront about previous convictions or evictions.
Four Other Questions To Expect
During the screening process, you can also expect your landlord to enquire about the following points. As above, it’s always better being honest here—if you’re found to have lied, they may have grounds to evict you later on.
1. Do You Have Pets?
An increasing number of landlords are becoming pet-friendly as more and more families rent rather than buy, so there’s no benefit to hiding the fact that you have pets.
2. Do You Smoke?
Most landlords will prohibit smoking inside the unit, though many won’t mind if you smoke outside or in a designated area.
3. When Do You Plan To Move In?
The logistics of managing a rental unit can be tricky, so it’s important for landlords to know when you’re able to move into the unit. If the dates don’t match, they may seek out someone else to avoid missing out on rent payments. As such, when seeking out a rental, try to find one that matches your own availability and start your search in advance.
4. Who’s Moving In?
Your landlord will need to know how many people are moving in to ensure the unit is legally spacious enough to accommodate everyone. They may also need to carry out additional background checks on any tenants of age.
