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Ideal Tenants To House on Your Rental Property

Brian Lee BurkeBrian Lee Burke
Jan 22, 2025 3 min read
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Ideal Tenants To House on Your Rental Property

Turning a home into a rental property comes with its own perks when you have tenants who treat it with care. The easiest way to earn a steady income from a rental property is to house ideal, trustworthy tenants for long-term contracts. Look out for these qualities as you sift through rental applications.

A Strong, Verifiable Rental History

Applicants with a track record of paying rent on time, maintaining the property, and adhering to rental agreements are ideal for your property. This is especially important when managing high-demand properties like Liberty Lake Apartments Boise, where reliability is key. Before you call back an application, contact past landlords to verify the tenants’ behavior and reliability. For example, an applicant with consistent payments and no reported damages shows they respect both their responsibilities and your property.

Steady Employment and Income

Typically, tenants who allocate no more than 30 percent of their income to rent are less likely to struggle with payments. Request recent pay stubs or employment verification, and consider the duration of their employment status. A financially secure tenant reduces the risk of late payments or default.

Good Credit and Financial Responsibility

Many homeowners and landlords ask for a credit check from the tenant to investigate their financial habits. While not all landlords require a perfect credit score, the ideal applicant doesn’t have a history of evictions, bankruptcy, or frequent late payments. If they show signs of missed payments from their credit, they’re less likely to pay other bills, such as rent or utilities.

Credit reports help you assess a tenant’s dependability and avoid financial risks. Find online resources that easily transfer credit information from the tenant to you.

Respectful Communication Skills

Effective communication during the application process shows a promising future of transparent discussions during their term. Whether they require maintenance, payment discussions, or other concerns, the ideal tenants for your rental property handle these conversations promptly and professionally. Pay close attention to how potential renters respond during initial conversations; their behavior can indicate their responsiveness during the lease.

Long-Term Rental Intentions

Vacancies translate to a loss of income. In order to avoid this issue, look for renters who plan to stay in your property for several years. For instance, investing in senior housing could be lucrative because retirees like to settle in long-term leases for their golden years.

Long-term tenants also reduce turnover costs, such as cleaning, advertising, and repairs. Instead of rejuvenating the property and looking for new tenants in between leases, find one long-term tenant.

After you buy and fix up a rental property, don’t rent it out to just anyone. Carefully look through the applications, and pay close attention to the qualities that define a respectable tenant.

WRITTEN BY
Brian Lee Burke
Brian Lee Burke
AUTHOR, E-PRO®, REALTOR® BROKER

Brian Lee Burke is the founder and team leader of Kenna Real Estate Group, a real estate team at Keller Williams DTC. A licensed REALTOR® since 2002, Brian helps Colorado buyers and sellers navigate residential real estate, new construction, pricing, and negotiation. He is also the author of The Real Estate Playbook and Mastering Real Estate: Your Guide to Becoming a Top Agent.

View Brian Lee Burke’s full profile.