• 1
• Uncategorized ,
• 11 May

According to PM Guardian, Tenant screening for Sioux Falls property managers is about to take on a whole new look. Whether you think of screening as a tool to protect yourself and your investment or as a dreaded part of being a property manager, here’s a snapshot of what it should look like.

Since background checks are performed as a protection, there are several key factors your screening should include. These are:

• Income is 3X the monthly rent
• Credit is clear of collections
• Positive references from past landlords
• A verifiable employment history
• Criminal history is clear
• Sex offender history is clear

Even as a DIY landlord, it is important to establish clear rules for who you will and will not accept and stick to them. Tenants with a rough past often avoid renting from property management companies because of the stricter guidelines for qualification, however, if you are going to be completely fair in your requirements and avoid complaints, you must treat everyone the same by asking the same questions and not bending rules for one person and not others. Sioux Falls property managers need to remember, it’s not personal, it’s business.

The next time you screen a tenant and are wondering about the screening process, remember that you are allowed to reject tenants with: bad credit history, insufficient income to meet the rent demands, previous damage to other units, consistent late rent payments, criminal history, poor job history. You cannot, however, reject an application for discriminatory reasons including: race, religion, nationality, gender, age, disability status, or familial status. Acting as a businessman instead of an emotional one will leave you with a better reputation as a Sioux Falls property manager.

The key to successful property management is consistency. Consistency in who you rent to, what questions you ask, and the screening process you put each tenant through will allow you to avoid possible lawsuits and Fair Housing Act laws.