One of the roles of a property management company is to screen tenants. The company conducts a thorough analysis of a person’s background to gain insight on whether or not the prospective resident will make timely payments, rent long term, and be a good fit among other renters already in a community. Further, the screening process can eliminate individuals who may cause harm to others for various reasons, including engaging in a crime or housing an unruly pet.
The vetting process begins with marketing vacancies. In marketing collateral, a property management firm will outline qualifying standards to guarantee most applicants applying fulfill important factors. Variables may include the ability to afford a certain amount of rent.
Thereafter, a phone call or email to a potential renter is common. A firm can ask open-ended questions, within the limitations of their state laws, to provide answers about a property as well as uncover red flags that may make a person ineligible to lease a home. If an applicant makes it past the prescreening process, a property management firm continues with a background and credit check, utilizing information from the application. The checks will consist of verifying employment and criminal history.