Interviewing a prospective renter should be a simple, final step in the tenant screening process, but without a strict set of standardized questions, you could leave yourself open to accusations of discrimination that could place your entire property management business at risk.
Equally, if you fail to ask the right questions, you could end up proceeding with the lease agreement, despite serious, unaddressed issues, like incompatibility with property and HOA rules.
Therefore, you need a concrete process that ensures fairness and objectivity across all your tenant screening questions.
In this guide, you’ll see the advantages of a screening interview, a look at the pros and cons of managing them in person, the topics you need to avoid, and 30 screening questions across the following categories:
By taking onboard the insights in this guide and using the questions provided, you’ll gain valuable insights into each of your prospective tenants without compromising your compliance with fair housing laws or the integrity of your screening process.
Tenant screening is an important element of the tenant application process, where you can perform multiple checks to assess the suitability of your prospective renter.
Your objective here is to assess the risk the tenant represents in terms of their ability to complete rental payments on time and to fulfill other obligations as set out in the lease agreement.
For example, lease agreement terms could include maintaining the property in good condition, adhering to specified noise regulations, and not smoking indoors.
Tenant screening typically incorporates both a tenant credit check and a tenant background check, which are normally performed using a tenant screening service and one of the three main credit bureaus, Experian, Equifax, or TransUnion.
You may also choose to conduct a tenant interview, which, if conducted correctly, will better inform your decision on whether to proceed with the tenant application and protect you from potential charges of discrimination should the application be rejected.
Interviewing tenants as part of your standard application process offers several advantages that go beyond basic screening and risk assessment:
For property managers with extensive portfolios, a scalable process that eliminates the need for in-person meetings may be more practical.
However, an in-person interview will allow you to take advantage of some of the benefits described above, like establishing rapport, as well as giving you the chance to assess the renter up close, which could provide deeper insights into their personality and suitability.
That said, conducting interviews in person might influence your objectivity and potentially compromise the fairness of your screening process.
Therefore, whether you choose to interview your prospective tenant in person, via a phone call, or with an emailed form, you need a standardized set of screening questions you can consistently apply across every tenant application.
The following tenant screening questions are organized into five separate categories so you can thoroughly assess prospective tenants and ensure your interview process is fair, transparent, and objective.
Logistical questions help you understand the prospective tenant's needs and, should their application go smoothly, better plan and prepare the property for them.
For example, you may find they’re vegan and, as a result, need certain furnishings, or they may have certain pieces of equipment they wish to install in or store at the property.
If the tenant has pets, you may need to make special arrangements to ensure the property doesn’t experience excessive wear and tear. Equally, you may have concerns depending on the property type and local community rules.
If you’d like to learn more about this topic, see our guide on pet screening.
When reviewing credit and background checks, certain red flags may arise that require further clarification.
The following questions are intended to address specific concerns, though whether or not they’re applicable will depend on the results of your checks.
It's important to note that some questions may not be permitted depending on local anti-discrimination measures and laws on tenant privacy rights.
It's important to understand how the tenant’s behavior might impact the property and other residents.
These questions will help you learn about the tenant's habits and assess their compatibility with any property or HOA rules.
Some local laws stipulate that you must present the tenant with the selection criteria and the reasons why an application might be denied.
To help ensure you’ve done this effectively, you can ask these questions.
Across different jurisdictions, there are multiple laws and regulations in place designed to ensure objectivity and fairness throughout the tenant screening process.
If you fail to properly observe these protections, you could leave yourself open to legal challenges, discrimination lawsuits, and fines.
As a result, you should avoid the following topics:
Note that even a seemingly innocent inquiry into any of these areas could leave you legally compromised.
For example, asking about a tenant's weekend activities could unintentionally reveal religious practices, which could then be perceived as discriminatory if the application is denied.
Likewise, if you wonder out loud where their accent is from, it could be interpreted as a question about their nationality or ethnic background, potentially leading to allegations of discrimination.
By following these recommendations and utilizing our standard screening questions, you can help ensure a thorough and fair tenant screening process.
This will help you select reliable tenants, minimize the risk of potential legal issues, and maintain consistency throughout all your property management practices.
To further protect your properties, community relationships, and property management business, consider implementing Minut’s standalone, privacy-safe sensor for monitoring noise, occupancy, and cigarette smoke.
