Important Questions to Ask Renters During Screening

Around 44 million American households are rental properties. According to the Pew Research Center, around 36% of all American residents rent their homes. With the rental market in full swing, property managers seek residents who will take care of their units and pay rent reliably.

Interviewing is the most direct means of learning about prospective tenants. There are a few questions to ask renters that every landlord should consider.

Why Landlords Should Conduct a Thorough Screening Process

Rental properties are major investments. They take expense, time and effort to acquire and maintain. When owners seek renters, they look for those who respect their standards, keep the home secure and honor the terms of their rental.

Background screening and interviews are the direct ways landlords get this information. Some questions may be difficult to answer, and some must be phrased thoughtfully to avoid discrimination issues. However, a tenant’s responses to fair, specific questions provide insight into their appropriateness as renters.

20 Questions Every Landlord Should Ask Potential Renters

Here are some of the most important questions to ask renters during the application process.

1. How Long Have You Lived at Your Current Residence?

Tenants who have been at their current place of residence for a long time are perceived as more secure. They’re also regarded as having a consistent payment history. Be careful not to make immediate assumptions about answers or use them to discriminate.

2. Why Are You Looking for a New Place to Live? 

What’s the motivation for the prospective tenant’s move? The answer also speaks to their reliability and stability. If they’re moving to a new town for a job, that can be a sign of their employment security. If they’re leaving because of a dispute with their current landlord, that may portend tension in the future. 

3. When Are You Looking to Move In?

Knowing what date the rental applicant wants to move in helps establish a workable schedule for both parties. Landlords can make prior arrangements for maintenance and repairs on the property if needed. 

4. What Do You Do for a Living?

Besides establishing how much the prospective tenants make, the answer to this question addresses how your rental property might be affected by their occupation and schedule. Do they work from home? Do they work the day or night shift?

5. What’s Your Monthly Income?

The reason for asking this question should be fairly obvious — can the prospective tenant afford to rent this unit every month? Landlords need to be assured that renters can pay their rent consistently.

6. How Many People Will Be Living With You?

Some rental units have occupancy limits, whether by law or management decision. Five people living in a studio apartment doesn’t make a lot of sense. More people living in a rental property means more exposure to normal wear and tear. This can result in higher maintenance and insurance costs.

7. Do You Have Pets?

Dogs and cats, loveable as they may be, can create minor issues with property maintenance. In multifamily residential buildings, they may pose allergy risks. A landlord may have a strict no-pet policy. If you’re willing to allow pets, though, it’s fair to ask more direct questions about them during tenant screening.

8. Do You or Others Living With You Smoke?

Many landlords — especially those managing multifamily buildings — ban smoking in their rental units. This is partially because of health concerns but also because of potential smoke damage to walls, ceilings and fixtures.

9. Will You Need Off-Street Parking?

Renters who drive need places to park their vehicles. Many prefer to have dedicated parking spaces as close to their units as possible. In some areas, that’s not practical or possible. If you can accommodate cars, you may assign (and maybe even charge for) parking spaces.

10. May I Contact Your Current Landlord as a Reference?

There’s probably no surer way of determining a tenant’s reliability than talking to their present landlord. The landlord can answer pertinent questions about rental payment history, property maintenance and overall character. Bear in mind that some landlords may have shaky reputations themselves.

11. Have You Ever Been Evicted?

There are many reasons a prospective tenant may have a previous eviction on their record. Some reasons are justifiable and some are questionable. However, knowing whether a tenant has been served an eviction notice is a crucial piece of information. It can indicate if the tenant is a future risk.

12. Have You Ever Filed for Bankruptcy? 

Bankruptcy can be a touchy subject for certain tenants. Filing for bankruptcy is almost always the result of financial distress. However, bankruptcies that were filed long ago aren’t always an indication of their suitability as renters. Nevertheless, it’s important to know if the tenant has ever taken this step, especially recently.

13. Do You Have a Criminal History?

This is a question landlords need to be very careful about. Landlords must focus on whether any convictions on their tenants’ records have any relevance to their specific property. It’s better to phrase the question in more granular, specific ways — for example, “Have you been convicted of arson in the last five years?” 

14. Have You Ever Broken a Rental Agreement?

Rental agreements are contractual obligations enforceable by law. If a tenant has any history of defying or breaking the terms of previous rental agreements, it’s one of the biggest red flags that can come up during the application process. 

15. Does Your Current Landlord Know You’re Moving?

Most landlords require at least a few weeks’ notice when a tenant plans to vacate their property. If a tenant’s moving date is arriving soon and their current landlord is unaware of their plans, it’s fair to be a little suspicious.

16. Will You Agree to a Background Check?

A proper background check includes credit reports, rental history, employment verification, bank records and personal references. You should also ask if items may come up in the background check that you should be concerned about.

17. Do You Understand the Rental Application Process?

Rental applications vary among property managers, but they usually have some steps in common. Make sure the tenant understands how application fees, credit checks, employment and income confirmation, security deposits, inspections, lease terms and renter’s insurance work.

18. Can You Afford the Move-In Fees and Security Deposit?

Most landlords charge upfront costs from renters before they move in. The most common arrangement is to pay the first month’s rent and a security deposit. Make sure the tenant is financially able to pay those fees.

19. What Are Your Future Plans?

This is another question that should be asked with great caution. As with the criminal background check, this question should only be pertinent to the rental property and payment ability, and it’s best to be specific. “Are you comfortable with a one-year lease?” and “How do you plan to use this property?” are fair questions in this regard.

20. Do You Have Any Questions for Me?

Some believe this is the most important question of the tenant screening process. It helps landlords and tenants understand each other’s concerns. It can also provide the framework for how the tenant-landlord relationship will evolve.

Knowledge Equals Power

Tenant interviews can make potential renters anxious. Sometimes it’s just nervousness about being the focus of inquiry. However, preparing the right questions to ask renters helps a landlord manage the security and value of their real estate.

Frequently Asked Questions