10 Warning Signs for Potentially Bad Tenants

What are the warning signs a landlord needs to be on the watch for when screening potential tenants? There are, of course, the financial warning signs that you receive once they have filled out an application, but there are 10 subtler warning signs to be alert for. By following gut instincts - and being aware of these warning signs - a small landlord can have better success in keeping their property rented to desirable tenants.

1 - Your phone rings during the last week of the month, and the voice on the other end of the line wants an apartment, any apartment, right now, and caller ID shows it is a local call.

2 - You can barely hear the voice on the phone because at 3 in the afternoon the sound of the party in the background is drowning it out.

3 - The only question you get is "Can we move in now?" and they never ask "What's the monthly rent?" If they don't care how much it is going to cost every month - they may not intend on ever paying you anything beyond the security deposit.

4 - The potential tenant arrives with a bunch of people - none of whom planning on being their roommate. This is a three-pronged warning sign. 1) They could be just casing the security of the building to come back later to commit a few burglaries; or, 2) You can expect there will be a bunch of people hanging out and partying in the apartment constantly; or, 3) There will be many more people living in the apartment than you permit.

5 - They balk at your standard screening procedures, and will not explain why.

6 - The potential tenant has changed jobs every three months for the last year and none of them indicate the ability to pay the rent or they won't talk about how they make their living; or,

7 - They have had more than two addresses over the last two years, indicating they are either breaking leases or being evicted.

8 - They don't ask what you are going to do to get the apartment or house ready for them to move in, indicating they will accept any kind of living conditions - and probably live that way.

9 - On the tour they keep saying "we" and "us" and dodge your questions about who else will be occupying the apartment or house.

10 - If they show up drunk or otherwise intoxicated, or with a car packed filled with their belongings.

Stay away from bad renters! By staying aware of the warning signs, you can keep your rental unit filled with people who will take care of your property and are likely to pay the rent.