Being a Landlord requires performing your due diligence at every stage of the tenancy process. One of the early steps is the application form submitted by prospective tenants. Recently I reviewed an owner’s application who is self managing their property. The application form failed to request some basic information required to make an informed decision on prospective tenants. 

An application should ask for the current address with unit number if apartment, condo or townhouse. Employer information including address, phone number, name of supervisor and their position in the company. Asking for more details provides the opportunity to perform some background research before contacting previous landlords or employers. 

I was recently asked how I know if the person listed on the application is really the supervisor or manager of the potential tenant. The number they give could be the person’s cell phone number and not a work number of the business. There are many tools online to confirm the address and phone numbers of a business before contacting the employer. I  always research the employer and call the main number to confirm the person listed as the supervisor is an employee of the company and the supervisor of the applicant. 

Recently I received an application from some applicants which included a person indicating they worked for a specific company. The address of the business on the application was correct. When I called the company they were not familiar with the employee or the supervisor identified on the application. It was clear the information provided by the applicant was inaccurate and I advised my client to not accept the applicant. 

Another applicant supplied an address where they lived, without supplying the unit number. When I asked the Landlord which unit they lived in they indicated it was a Strata property and they owned just the one unit. I had already researched the building address online and identified the building was a “rental apartment building”, not a Strata Corporation which meant the applicant had provided inaccurate information. Again I informed my client to not accept the applicants.   

When you have the right information it is easier to make an informed decision on potential applicants. Making a wrong decision in the beginning can be very costly for Landlords when they attempt to have the tenant vacated from the property.

Renting your property can be confusing. Cartref Properties can assist you, call today to discuss your needs or find more information about us at: www.cartrefproperties.com