Browsing through applications for rent can be a challenging process, as choosing the perfect fit requires a lot of time and effort to make an informed decision.
Sure, there’s potential in each one, but only a select few will truly shine and stand out from other prospective tenants, as you need someone reliable, responsible, and ready to treat the property with respect.
If you’re looking for reliable property management service in Ipswich, Rent360 can ease the burden of tenant screening, ensuring they find renters who meet their criteria and requirements.
Speaking of requirements, you might be wondering what landlords look for in a tenant, and that’s what this guide is all about!
In today’s article, we’ll walk you through a comprehensive list of the main aspects landlords always consider while selecting a tenant for their property. Let’s dive right in!
The Main Qualities Landlords Are Looking for in a Tenant
While each landlord may have their own checklist of priorities to look for in a tenant, many of them seek certain aspects. Here’s a brief overview of these characteristics.
Positive Credit History and Credit Score
The first and most important factor landlords consider while picking tenants is their financial history.
Credit history offers a glimpse into the applicant’s financial behaviour and whether they’re up for the responsibility of paying rent on time.
Having a good credit score typically indicates a history of on-time payments on debts like credit cards, loans, etc.
This gives the landlord the confidence that the tenant is likely to pay rent consistently, avoiding the headache of chasing missed payments or dealing with evictions.
Having a good credit score also shows another quality that landlords always seek, predictability, as a good credit history implies a track record of fulfilling financial obligations.
This suggests that the tenant is less likely to break the lease agreement or cause unexpected issues in the future.
Additionally, while credit scores aren’t fool-proof, they’re quantifiable. This means that landlords can use it as a metric to compare and gauge multiple applicants or set a minimum record to filter through a large number of tenants quickly.
Clean Rental and Eviction Record
In a competitive rental market, a clean rental and eviction history can easily put you ahead of the pack, as landlords are more likely to consider your application favourably if you showcase a hassle-free tenancy past.
Simply put, a positive rental history acts as an extra assurance of your responsible tenancy. It shows that you’ve paid rent on due dates, looked after the property during your time renting it, and maintained a good relationship with previous landlords.
This statistically reduces the risk of issues arising when applying for a new tenancy, which provides the “predictability” quality we’ve discussed in the previous point.
Evictions are messy, time-consuming, and costly for all parties involved, but it’s specifically stressful for landlords, so it’s natural that they’ll go with a tenant that showcases the potential for a cleaner eviction when the rental period comes to an end.
Read further here on whether a landlord can be held liable for nuisance tenants.
Punctuality and Consistency
Being punctual for viewings, meetings, and appointments suggests a person who values time and respects their commitments, both of which are essential and highly desired traits in a tenant.
Punctuality is also a first-impression quality. In other words, landlords don’t need to have multiple meetings with potential tenants to establish how respectful they are of time commitments.
While punctuality can be assessed almost right away, it takes landlords some time to assess a tenant’s consistency. However, it’s an essential quality to establish trust.
Luckily, consistency can be demonstrated in a variety of ways, including
- Financial consistency, which is demonstrated through regular employment or consistent income streams (more about that in the following sections)
- Behavioural consistency through maintaining positive relationships with previous landlords, neighbours, and property managers.
- Communication consistency while responding to inquiries, concerns, and maintenance requests
Clear Criminal Record
Landlords have a legitimate interest in assessing any potential risks to the property, neighbourhood, and their own safety.
For that reason, it’s fairly common for most landlords to establish “having a clear criminal record” as a tangible requirement while picking a tenant for their property.
It’s also typical for landlords to run a background check on potential tenants to screen for any convictions related to property damage, theft, violence, or other charges that might raise concerns about future behaviour.
That being said, it’s important for landlords to also evaluate each case individually, based on aspects like relevance, severity, time, and rehabilitation.
Stable Employment and Sufficient Income
Another critical aspect landlords will always consider while choosing a tenant is whether a potential tenant has the financial means to pay rent on time and in full.
A stable job with a consistent income is always preferred by landlords because it gives them peace of mind knowing that the tenant is able to pay their rent hassle-free.
Of course, this heavily depends on how much a landlord would charge for rent, but they can always pick tenants who demonstrate the ability to pay the rent with a reasonable fraction of their sufficient income.
Additionally, while paying rent remains the landlord’s primary concern, sufficient income ensures the tenant can also afford necessary living expenses and potential maintenance costs that might arise during the leasing period.
This reduces the risk of damage to the property because of neglected repairs prioritising basic needs over maintaining the space, provided that they’re handled by the tenant.
Additionally, similar to credit score, stable income is quantifiable, which makes it easy for landlords to compare potential tenants easily.
Transparency and Honesty
The ability to communicate honestly and clearly with the landlord is another essential quality that all tenants should try to have.
Of course, this goes beyond just basic pleasantries, as it’s also about building trust and confidence from the very first meeting, which sets the stage for a smooth and positive landlord-tenant relationship in the long run.
The point here is to eliminate surprises for the landlord by being upfront about your financial situation, employment status, and even any past issues (like a minor late payment on a previous lease).
Honesty also includes discussing your financial arrangements with the landlord and whether you’re willing to cover certain payments, such as agreeing on who pays council rates.
In most cases, landlords are responsible for paying them. However, there are some exceptions where the tenants could contribute partially or fully to these payments, so clear communication is essential for both parties to eliminate any issues moving on.
Politeness and Professionalism
Good credit scores and stable income are crucial aspects that most landlords look for in a tenant, but they’re not the only factors they consider because they don’t necessarily reflect the tenant’s character.
For example, the initial interactions between landlords and tenants, whether through emails, phone calls, or viewings will set the tone for the relationship.
Being polite and courteous demonstrates respect and maturity from the tenant’s side, which makes them more appealing than a person who strikes the landlord as disorganised or rude.
Additional Tips to Help You Stand Out Among Other Tenants
Now that you know more about the essential features, traits, and qualities landlords look for in a tenant, here are some additional tips to help you stand head and shoulders above the competition while applying for rent:
Having a Solid Reference
A solid reference can be your golden ticket when applying for rent, as a positive testament from a third party can massively boost your chances of landing the rental agreement because it gives confirmation of your personal qualities.
Ideally, you should try to get a reference letter from a previous landlord and ask them to highlight your positive rental history.
If this isn’t applicable, you can try to get a reference from your employer or superior to establish trustworthiness.
Prepare Your Documents Beforehand
Finding a proper tenant can take some time, so landlords will always appreciate a ready candidate.
Having everything readily organised demonstrates efficiency, preparedness, convenience, and professionalism. It also shows the landlord you value their time and are serious about securing the tenancy.
Consider a Lengthy Lease Agreement
Always remember that landlords crave stability. If you like the property and don’t mind an extended rental, always proper a lengthy lease agreement.
This ensures a stable income for the landlord, which encourages them to consider your proposal over other applicants.
Of course, your qualifications should align with your intentions, including having a stable, sufficient income and good credit history.
Highlight Relevant Eligibility
While the previously mentioned criteria are common among most landlords, some might still have their unique requirements, such as certain policies regarding having pets or smoking.
Going beyond basic qualifications and highlighting how you align with those specific qualities will give you a huge edge over other applicants.
Final Thoughts
This marks the end of today’s guide that walks you through the most essential criteria that landlords look for while picking a tenant.
As you can see, landlords always seek responsible, reliable tenants who will treat their property with care and respect.
While financial stability and good references are crucial, qualities like punctuality and honesty are also necessary to stand out and demonstrate professionalism and reliability.