The number of monthly evictions in Houston is far above the pre-pandemic average. Evictions can be a real pain, and no one (tenant or landlord) wants to deal with them. They're somewhat unavoidable, but there is one way to protect yourself against them.
Tenant screening may be able to help. You can get higher-quality tenants so you lower the chance of evictions.
We're here to talk all about the benefits of tenant screening as well as what you can expect to learn from a basic tenant screening process. Read on to learn more.
Property Protection
One of the top benefits of tenant screening is property protection. When you use a tenant screening service to learn about a tenant's background, you can learn about whether or not they've had issues with leaving behind property damage in the past.
Past property damage doesn't necessarily indicate future damage (after all, it's possible that it was the fault of another tenant or an unexpected accident), but that's a conversation you can open up during a private chat.
You can also screen for pets. If your tenant has pets, they could cause damage. Many landlords have no problem with pets, but including pet restriction information in the listing is a great way to get tenants to self-screen.
Keeping Other Tenants Happy
Tenant screening services can also keep other tenants who live on the property safe and happy.
If a tenant has a history of violent behavior that pops up during their screening, you may have a good reason not to rent to them (so long as you're following all laws regarding rental discrimination).
No tenant wants to deal with another tenant disturbing them.
Ensuring Payment
Tenant screening involves learning about a tenant's credit and income. Some tenants may have poor credit and bad income or vice-versa. Some tenants may have no credit or official income (because they're young), but they receive money from family or school.
All that matters is that your tenant is able to pay rent. It's helpful to have a conversation with a tenant after the screening process if anything is unclear (for example, if a tenant works a freelance job and doesn't have paystubs, but has money in their bank account).
Longer-Term Tenants
Tenants that you screen ahead of time may turn into longer-term tenants. Of course, nothing is guaranteed, but you are less likely to experience them leaving early as a result of not being able to pay rent or disagreements with other tenants.
If they haven't previously displayed lease-breaking activities, they're less likely to display them in the future. Longer-term tenants save you a lot of time and money.
What Can You Learn from Tenant Screening?
So what do you learn from a tenant screening service?
It depends. Generally, you can learn if the tenant has a serious criminal history, their rental history (if any), and their income and credit. This information can help you determine whether or not that tenant would be a good match for your property.
Have You Screened Your Tenants?
The tenant screening process isn't mandatory, but it is helpful. If you want to keep having high-quality tenants, consider using a tenant screening service in the future.
If you're a property owner in Houston, Texas who needs help managing a property, we've got you covered. Our team of experienced property managers can help. Contact us to learn more about what we can do for you.
