Hi,
I have just arranged some viewings and wondered if anyone has any tips or questions to ask / vet prospective tenants.
This flat has previously been my home and one day may move back in and want to find the right person who will look after it.
I previously rented to a friend of a friend who I trusted and so this is the first time I’m going through this process.
I’ve already asked some basic questions prior to viewing but this is for the actual visit.
Any advice glady received.
Thanks
Natalie
I ask the following:
Where are you currently living and why are you moving?
How long have you lived at your current address?
What do you do for a living? I had a prospective tenant tell me he is a professional, then revealed he is an odd job man in a factory.
Can you provide full Landlord references and proof you can afford the rent, as I will require you passing reference checks?
I would also insist any tenant now has no unspent convictions, is in steady, permanent employment and has no debt.
I recently had a prospective tenant view a house. As soon as I mentioned referencing, he told me he had debt, paid very low rent, cash in hand to his Landlord, who was not declaring his Landlord status and the Landlord refused to provide me with his own email or written reference.
I also ask if they have any questions for me. You will be surprised what the responses reveal about their plans for the property.
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All these questions should be asked on the phone before a viewing is even arranged to save yourself the bother of showing someone completely unsuitable around your property.
In my auto-response on OR, I ask them to call me. If they don’t, they go no further (as they pay no attention to comms). If they call, I ask all the questions above plus I ask them directly if they have any CCJs or are paying off any loans. Saying yes doesn’t disqualify them, I say, but if they say no and I find out they do it will.
I also ask how much they earn a month, how much they save a month, whether they can get a reference from a previous landlord (not current) and whether they’ll be happy sharing 6 months of bank accounts and payslips.
If they pass this phone call, I invite them to a viewing. If I get a good vibe at the viewing, I ask them to sign a data protection form and then take a copy of their ID and give them an application form.
Once I get all their documentation, if what they said in response to my finance questions doesn’t match, they’re unlikely to be successful.
I can sustain lengthy voids as I’ve built a financial cushion to sustain this so I’m in no rush to get a tenant in. I’m very picky. They must tick every single one of my boxes.
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Hi Natalie, during viewings, pay attention to how punctual and respectful potential tenants are, and ask open-ended questions like why they’re moving and how long they plan to stay. Observe how they interact with the space—it can reflect how they’ll treat it. Afterward, follow up with references and credit checks, and trust your instincts if something doesn’t feel right. Good luck!