Time to change tenants?

“You can’t turn back the clock.  But you can wind it up again.”  Bonnie Prudden , rock climber, dancer, gymnast, swimmer, diver, and horseback rider.

Sometimes the wrong tenant was chosen for a rental.  It is tempting to just let things be.  Often this is the wrong decision.  A short term vacancy may be better than coping with a continual nagging problem.  Many times the decision to ask someone to move is postponed, thinking that the situation will get better.  Numerous times we have had to take over a property that has been misused, abused or neglected.  It almost always cost much more to repair the property, than if the decision to change tenants had been made earlier.

So, is it time to rewind the clock, - start over again with new players?

Rental Screening and Fair Housing

When I do a screening for rental homes,  I generally want to get as much information from the prospective tenant as possible.  Still, there are some areas that are risky to inquire about. You can ask about their income.  You can ask about their employment.  You can ask about their past rental history.  Disability questions pose a potential problem. Fair housing rules do not allow you to ask about disability causes, what a service animal does for the tenant, medications, or rehab programs the tenant may have attended.

One other danger area is telling a prospective tenant what unit or home is best suited for the tenant.  It is their choice to make.

One safe practice is to use routine policies the same with every applicant.  Tell them what the requirements are before they apply.  Be consistent with everyone.

Fair Housing Center ow Washington has an excellent brochure titled: Top 100 frequently asked questions and answers for Property owners and managers.  Get a copy and actually read it!