The 3 Most Important Landlord Reference Questions to Ask

When considering a new tenant for your rental property, it’s important that you complete a thorough screening. This can include a background check, credit check, and a rental verification with the applicants previous or current landlord. Rental verification, also known as a reference check, is a process in which you contact the potential tenant’s current landlord to ensure they are a reliable renter. Completing this step in the tenant screening process gives you a snapshot into their rental history and can help determine if they meet your qualifications and will be a good tenant.

In this article, we give you the three most important questions to ask when completing rental verifications with a tenant’s landlord references.

We’ve all heard the horror stories of residents moving in, never paying rent, and then going through a drawn-out eviction process. It’s a headache that landlords prefer to avoid. Knowing if a prospective tenant pays rent late to their previous landlord or property management company can help you understand what to expect should they move into your rental.

Residents who express disruptive behavior and fail to adhere to community rules can cause many issues for landlords, whether that be from constant noise complaints, issues with a tenant’s pet, or poor interactions with neighbors. Even if monthly rent payments are timely and a credit report comes back with a high score, a history of complaints or violations can reveal problems that may create a hostile living environment for other residents or signal a tenant’s disregard for the rules and regulations set forth in their lease agreement. Make sure to ask their former landlord if they got along well with other tenants in the building before you accept their rental application.

Getting a concise summary of a past landlord's overall experience with a tenant is a crucial step when screening tenants. If a landlord says they would not re-rent to a tenant, whether it’s due to late payments, a hostile attitude, or damage done to their unit, it is a good indication of red flags that may not be covered in the other two questions. A positive answer, on the other hand, suggests the tenant was responsible, respectful, and a good fit for leasing.

There are plenty of reasons why a high-quality tenant may not have a rental history — like if they have lived with their family all their lives — and that should not prevent them from being considered for your rental. If you are unable to determine if they would be a good fit by contacting their previous landlord, ask the tenant for a current employer reference. If the tenant lived in a dorm in college, you can also send the rental verification to their RA. Personal references, like family members or family friends, can be a last resort, though the answers you receive to your list of questions are more likely to be biased.

National Fair Housing laws state that any question pertaining to a protected class cannot be asked. For example, you cannot ask what the applicant's marital status is when completing the rental verification, as that falls under a protected class and the answer cannot be considered when determining if you will rent to the applicant or not. Protected classes include: race, color, national origin, religion, sex (including gender identity and sexual orientation, familial status, and disability. Below are additional questions to avoid:

Conducting a thorough tenant reference checks is a key component in evaluating potential tenants — and worth the hassle of making all the phone calls. By asking the three reference questions outlined above, you gain crucial insights into an applicant's rental history, reliability, and behavior. Understanding their payment habits, history of complaints, and whether a previous landlord would rent to them again allows you to make a well-informed decision. Even when an applicant lacks rental history, alternative references can help fill in the gaps. Always keep Fair Housing regulations in mind to ensure your screening process is both compliant and fair. With careful verification, you can protect your real estate investment, find great tenants, and create a positive environment for all of your residents.