Renting a property out can be a good source of income, but if you have a less than stellar tenant, it can be a significant source of stress. No landlord wants to deal with the frustration of a tenant who destroys property and doesn’t pay rent on time, or the cost of having to evict a tenant. Properly screening your tenants before they move in can increase the chances that you will build a mutually beneficial relationship with your tenant. Here’s how to choose a trustworthy tenant for your rental property.
Perform a Credit Check
The first thing you should check is a potential tenant’s credit. You want to make sure they pay their bills on time and don’t have a lot of outstanding collections on their credit report. You’ll also need to check their debt to income ratio to determine if the rental property will be affordable with their current monthly debt payments.
Perform a Background & Criminal Record Check
Checking a prospective tenant’s background and criminal history is another important part of properly screening tenants before you enter into a rental agreement. For example, you may want to avoid signing a rental agreement with tenants who have been convicted of selling or manufacturing drugs, or who have been registered as a sex offender. You may not be able to discriminate against some crimes, so it is critical to check with your lawyer before agreeing to rent to a particular tenant.
Check Their Rental History
A prospective tenant’s rental history can give you a lot of information about their trustworthiness. Have they broken any leases or moved out without telling their landlord? Have they been evicted from any properties or have they been sued by a landlord? You may want to enter into a rental agreement only with tenants who have a positive rental history.
Contact an Experienced Law Firm for Help
Thoroughly checking into a tenant’s background and history to determine if they are trustworthy or not can be challenging and time consuming. At Piper Legal, we have simplified the process and have forms available online that your tenants can request and pay for online. Our program is easy to use and can help you locate the right tenant for your Michigan rental property. Call us today for more information at (844) 55-PIPER or (810) 235-2558. Get started with our simple tenant screening forms here.