Having a clear and consistent tenant screening process in place can help you ensure that you are renting out your property to the right hands. As a landlord, you should know how to screen tenants for your rental property in Los Angeles. You can screen tenants by confirming employment, conducting criminal background checks, residence histories, etc.
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Here are some of the benefits of screening tenants:
- Get timely payments
- Reduce the risk of property damage
- Prevent tenant eviction
- Protect your property from criminals
- Peace of mind.
Screening tenants isn’t rocket science. However, understanding how to screen the tenants requires a lot of time and effort.
Not sure where to start? Fear not! This article will discuss some of the best ways to screen tenants for your rental property. So, let’s begin:
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Set Your Standards
First of all, you need to set your standards regarding the qualification of a prospective tenant. Just because you are renting your property in Los Angeles, it doesn’t mean you can allow anyone to live in it. some of the standards you can set include:
- Tenant’s income
- Credit history
- Employment references
Also, you need to ensure that the income of the prospective tenant exceeds the industry standard of 2-3x their monthly rent payment. So, it’s imperative to stick to your own set of standards. Otherwise, it can cost you a lot of time and money in the long run.
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Seek Professional Help
While screening tenants is a challenging process, seeking professional help from a leading Los Angeles property management company can be your best bet. An experienced property manager can streamline the tenant screening process and will take care of other aspects, such as managing daily complaints, maintenance issues, tenant evictions, etc. They will make sure that screening is conducted in compliance with fair housing and discrimination laws.
When you will find the right tenant for your rental property, a property manager will collect the security deposit, following the rules, to avoid merging those funds. Also, a property manager can help you keep your units filled longer and vacant for a shorter period.
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Run A Background Check
Running a background check is always worth it. It is an invaluable tool to understand the tenant’s behavior. A tenant who looks good on paper may have some strong indications that they will not be the right fit.
You can conduct a background check to get clear insights into tenants’ past evictions, criminal records, and other information.
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Decide On Tenants And Sign The Lease
By running background checks, you will get all the data about the tenants which can help you make informed decisions. Once you have found the right tenant for your rental property, inform them right away and set up a time to make them sign a lease.
If you don’t have the lease agreement with you, consult a lawyer to draft a lease for you.
Summing Up
Choosing the right tenant for rental property can evade several problems, such as late payments, unhappy neighbors, and other issues. That’s why screening tenants is a must.
To sum it up, follow the tips mentioned above to screen the tenants in the right manner.
