Q: Referencing Potential Tenants

I have had a bad spate of tenants, and was wondering if you could offer any advice on what to look out for when interviewing potential tenants?

A:

The easiest and most secure way to ensure you are getting a quality tenant is to get your tenants to fill in a tenant application form. This form will enable you to find out what kind of tenant they are as well as provide you with information on the following:

• Property details - alongside containing the basics about your rental property (address, rental price and your tenant's preferred move in date), this section will also provide you with their personal information (date of birth, marital status, contact details and current/previous address)
• Employment details – will help you to determine if they are able to afford your property
• Previous/current landlord details - this is a good opportunity to learn more about their previous renting history
• Bank details - this information will allow you to perform credit checks

In addition it may be worth asking your tenant to provide a tenant guarantor as they will not only vouch for your tenant but will also be liable for your property should your tenant fail to pay their rent or pay for damages they have caused.

In addition you should also request contact details for tenant references. You should not let your tenant give you these written references. You should contact the individuals yourself