When you’re trying to rent an apartment, it seems relatively simple. You want a tenant who takes care of the rental unit, follows the rules, keeps a quiet and tidy home and pays on time. However, whether you’re a large real estate company or formally renting out a part of your house, screening tenants is one of the most important parts of closing a lease signing.

1. Refusal to Screen All Tenants in the Unit
One person may hold the lease but listing other tenants in the unit is also required. This can also account for required income to rent and credit expectations. Unless every person in the unit is willing to undergo a screening, trouble may be afoot.

2. Negative Review from Former Landlord
No one knows your tenant better than their former landlord. It’s important to confirm that they were a good tenant before moving and honored their previous lease. This is where you get the word from the horse’s mouth.

3. Refusing the Screening Process Altogether
Anyone hesitant about a tenant screening service should arouse suspicion. Sometimes the screening process can become so rigorous that potential tenants may shy away if particularly highly sensitive information is involved, such as bank statements. However, it’s a bad sign if they demand to opt-out completely.

4. Hiding a Pet
Many leases stipulate that pets are not allowed in rental units. If your expectations of a renter explicitly ban animals in the unit, then you should be on the lookout for potential hidden pets. Dogs are a giveaway if your applicant is covered in hair or has canine memorabilia. Cats are the same and also shed frequently.

5. Lack of Credit or Rental History
With most tenant screening services, checking credit score and rental history is standard fare. No one expects to sign a contract without having good credit. If a potential tenant has a lack of credit history or rental history, it may be a red flag.

6. Employment Inconsistency
The gig economy in today’s workforce is common and doesn’t mean your applicant lacks income. However, what is cause for concern is if they simply have long periods of unexplained unemployment. This can throw a wrench in the expectation of rent being paid on time.

7. No Guarantor Available
You may meet a tenant and have a good feeling but there are problems. Maybe their credit score is poor or past renting experience seems dubious. The number one failsafe for this issue when practicality and emotions are warring is a guarantor. This provides a safety net if the desired tenant does default on the lease.

Finding a good tenant for your rental property isn’t easy but many mechanized processes that can help you along. LeaseRunner is one such service that can help you screen potential tenants and leave the hard work up to the company. Going through each process can eat up time, which is especially problematic for smaller landlords. Using a company to do the heavy lifting can not only save time but also fast-track potential leads on renters who will take proper care of your property.