Quick Guide to Effective Tenant Screening in St. Augustine

Attracting reliable, long-term tenants is crucial for the success of your St. Augustine rental property.

After your marketing campaign, you’ll receive applications, but it's important to thoroughly screen each tenant. Skipping this step can lead to costly mistakes.

Proper tenant screening ensures you find renters who pay on time, maintain your property, and get along with neighbors. Keep reading to learn more!

How to Identify Qualified Tenants?

Before you begin screening tenants, it’s important to define what makes a qualified renter for your St. Augustine property.

A good tenant should possess the following characteristics:

  • Ability to pay rent: Rent should be affordable, and the tenant must demonstrate their ability to make regular payments.
  • Stable employment: The tenant should have a reliable income source and steady job history.
  • Good rental history: Look for tenants with a history of paying rent on time and maintaining their previous rental properties.
  • Clean background: A criminal-free background is essential to ensure a safe living environment for everyone in your building or neighborhood.
  • Responsible attitude: A responsible renter will respect the property, follow rules, and communicate issues promptly.

Once you know what to look for, it’s time to move into the screening process.

A Person Holding Black Pen pointing something on a paper discussing with someone else in front of a computer

Tenant Screening Process

Develop a Screening Procedure

To effectively screen tenants, create a set of criteria that aligns with your expectations. Think about the type of renter you want and how you would prefer them to behave in the property.

This helps streamline your screening process and makes sure you're only considering candidates who meet your standards.

Pre-screening Applicants

To save time and effort, it’s highly recommended to conduct pre-screening before fully diving into the application process. In your rental listing, clearly state your criteria and requirements, such as income level, rental history, pet policies, and whether pet insurance is required.

You can also use a pre-screening questionnaire during property tours to ask initial questions and gather basic information.

Pre-screening helps you quickly identify any deal-breakers so you can eliminate unsuitable candidates early. This way, you only need to spend time and resources on serious prospects who are invested in becoming a tenant.

Reviewing Rental Applications

Once you receive rental applications, your form should be thorough and designed to collect all relevant information.

A solid rental application should ask for:

  • Personal and contact details: Name, phone number, and email.
  • Current and past addresses: Include names and contact information for current and previous landlords.
  • Employment details: Job title, salary, employer’s name, and how long they've been employed.
  • Credit and background check consent: A section allowing permission for a credit report and background check.

paper-filled-with-text-and-a-persons-hand-signing-their-signature-with-a-fountain pain

Checking income is crucial to ensure tenants can meet their financial obligations. While a common rule is to verify that the tenant earns at least three times the monthly rent, this shouldn’t be the only factor.

Financial obligations can impact a person’s ability to pay rent, even if their salary is above the baseline.

Verifying Income and Employment

It’s essential to verify that the employment details provided by the applicant are accurate.

This prevents the possibility of renting to someone who may be falsifying their information. Always confirm income by requesting recent pay stubs or bank statements, conducting a credit check, or by contacting the tenant's employer directly.

Inquiries to Make to Former Landlords

One of the most effective ways to evaluate a potential tenant is by speaking with their previous landlords.

The current landlord may have an incentive to offer glowing feedback to avoid the hassle of an eviction. However, former landlords have no stake in the current rental agreement and are more likely to provide honest, unbiased feedback.

When contacting past landlords, ask:

  • Did the tenant pay rent on time?
  • Were there any complaints or concerns during their tenancy?
  • Did they cause any damage to the property?
  • Was the tenant respectful to neighbors?

three people sitting around a conference table having a meeting

It’s important to be cautious when speaking with landlords about an applicant, as some may be trying to cover up bad behavior.

Asking about other vacancies at the property before discussing the applicant's history can help you verify the landlord’s identity and legitimacy.

Evaluating Credit and Background Checks

Credit and background checks are essential to assess an applicant's financial health and reliability. A credit report shows debt management, and a score of 680 or higher is generally satisfactory, though the final decision is up to the landlord.

  • Credit score: Look for tenants who demonstrate a history of managing their finances well.
  • Criminal history: A clean criminal record is essential to ensure a safe living environment.
  • Prior evictions: Check whether the tenant has been evicted in the past, as this could signal potential future issues.

A good tenant will have minimal or no debt, a stable income, and a criminal record free of major offenses.

Accepting or Rejecting a Potential Tenant

After completing the screening process, you must make a decision. If you choose to accept a tenant, be sure to inform them promptly. This can be done by:

  • Phone call: Call the prospective tenant to confirm their acceptance.
  • Email: Follow up with written instructions regarding the lease signing process.

If you decide to reject an applicant, always notify them in writing, whether via email or formal letter.

Ensure that you document the rejection, as it helps protect you from potential legal issues. It’s best to be direct and clear when rejecting a candidate but avoid getting into specifics unless the tenant presses for details.

Bottom Line

Tenant screening may seem time-consuming, but it’s worth the effort to avoid issues like late payments, property damage, and tenant conflicts.

The costs of vacancy and turnover often outweigh the time spent selecting quality tenants. If you're overwhelmed, hiring a property management company can help.

If you need help, feel free to reach out to Ocean Realty & Property Management . Our experienced team is here to guide you through the rental process, making it smooth and stress-free.

Get in touch with us today!