Choosing a tenant is the biggest decision you make as a landlord. A good tenant pays on time, takes care of your home and stays for years. A bad fit can mean missed rent, damage and a long, expensive eviction.

What’s at stake

A single problem tenancy can cost months of lost rent plus legal fees, repairs and another vacancy. Screening takes a few days, and it’s the best protection you have against those losses.

What a good screening process includes

A complete rental application

Every adult applicant should complete an application listing their current and past addresses, employers, income and references. Incomplete applications are a warning sign.

Income and employment verification

Confirm the applicant can afford the rent. Many landlords look for gross monthly income of around three times the rent. Verify it with pay stubs, offer letters or bank statements, and by contacting the employer.

Rental history

Previous landlords are one of your best sources. Ask whether rent was paid on time, whether the property was left in good condition, and whether they would rent to this person again.

Credit and background checks, where permitted

A credit report shows how an applicant handles financial obligations. Background checks must follow New Jersey law. Under the Fair Chance in Housing Act, most landlords can’t ask about criminal history until after a conditional offer, and even then only certain records may be considered.

Fair, consistent criteria

Fair housing laws prohibit discrimination based on protected characteristics. In New Jersey that includes source of lawful income, such as housing vouchers. The best way to stay compliant is to write down your screening criteria in advance and apply them the same way to every applicant.

Warning signs to watch for

Reluctance to give landlord references or employer contacts
Information that doesn’t match across documents
Pressure to skip steps or move in immediately
Offers to pay several months in cash in exchange for skipping screening

How we help

Our tenant screening service reviews every application, verifies income and employment, checks rental history, and runs credit and background checks where permitted, using the same written criteria for every applicant. The order of steps New Jersey requires is set out in our Fair Chance in Housing Act guide.

Why tenant screening is important for rental property owners