A landlord gave me feedback that changed how I screen tenants completely

I had a bad tenant last year who cost me $8,000 in damages. After that, a property manager friend told me I was too lenient on credit checks. She said I should be looking for a minimum 680 credit score and verifying income with three months of pay stubs. I started doing that and checking references from the last two landlords, not just the most recent one. So far every tenant I have accepted has paid on time for at least six months now. Has anyone else tightened up their screening rules after getting burned?

2 comments

2 Comments

veraw479h ago

Wait, only three months of pay stubs?! I always ask for six months ever since I had a guy who looked perfect on paper but lost his job two weeks after moving in. That 680 minimum is smart too, I had someone with a 650 and they treated my property like a frat house. Checking two previous landlords is crucial, I got burned by one that lied about a tenant just to get rid of them. Your friend gave you gold, I bet most landlords skip the extra steps and learn the hard way.

leobrown7h ago

Read a study once that said something like 60% of landlords don't even check income. Makes sense why so many people get stuck with nightmare tenants. Those extra steps seem tedious but they save you a headache down the road.