The application process is used to determine if the prospect, filling out the application, is qualified to becoming a tenant for your property. This process should be taken very seriously by all landlords. The application process starts at the first call received from the prospect to view the property. All of your interaction with the prospect should be taken under consideration when approving an application.

Incomplete and inaccurate rental applications can cost landlords much needed profit. Many application submitted are missing information or are illegible. Illegible applications speak negatively about the prospect that filled it out and slows down the approval process. The application has several important purposes, all of which rely on it being completed legibly. An incomplete application should be returned to the prospect to be completed.

All of the information requested on an application needs to be filled out to sufficiently screen the tenant. Some of the information collected needs to be verified to prove that the prospect is qualified for the property. Information such as employment, monthly income, and previous tenancy should be confirmed either verbally or in writing. A credit report should be run to verify the prospect payment history and to verify that there are no past eviction or judgments from previous landlords.

A separate application should be filled out for all potential occupants 18 years or older. The landlords should always know who is occupying his property at all times. The make and model of all vehicles should be clearly indicated on the application. If pets are allowed you should find out if the prospect has pets upfront. Ask for the pet’s weight and breed for your protection. Do not allow aggressive breed dogs at the property. The application should also contain a space for at least one emergency contact.

The landlord that is eager to rent seldom considers the last purpose of the rental application. The information on the application is invaluable in the collection process when the tenant is either evicted or abandons the property and the lease. In that case, an incomplete or illegible application makes collecting the debt difficult, if not impossible.

The application and screening are extremely important parts of the rental process. In many cases it will determine how profitable you will be as a landlord. If this process is too daunting a task to take on, please use a property management company.

Kent Forsythe, Licensed California Broker
Member of California Assoc. of Realtors,
National Assoc. of Realtors, Owner of
Superior Property Management. Contact Kent
@ kforsythe@superiorpropmgmt.com
(877) 308-7368 visit our website.