How to Screen and Qualify Tenants

One of the most common questions landlords ask is: "How do I find a great tenant and avoid a bad one?"

Tenant screening isn’t just about choosing someone who can afford rent, it’s about protecting your investment, reducing risk, and ensuring long-term success. But here’s the catch: this process is also the number one source of fair housing complaints in real estate.

At Mesa Properties, we’ve developed a clear, objective screening system that follows all fair housing laws while ensuring we place high-quality tenants who pay on time and take care of your property. Let’s break it down.

• 1. Make Sure You Follow Fair Housing Laws

  Many landlords don’t realize that even an innocent mistake in tenant screening can result in a lawsuit, investigation, or fine.

  For example, can you deny an applicant based on criminal history? It depends. Can you pull their credit report? Only under certain conditions, especially if they receive government assistance.

  There are strict rules on what you can and cannot use to qualify tenants, and failing to follow them can lead to serious consequences.

  That is why we take compliance seriously. At Mesa Properties, we have never had a fair housing-related lawsuit or investigation. We do things by the book to minimize your legal risk.

• 2. What Screening Criteria Should I Use?

  The key to fair and effective tenant screening is to apply the same pre-set criteria to every applicant. This eliminates subjectivity and legal gray areas. Many landlords only look at credit score and income.

  Credit score and income are good starting points, but they don’t tell the full story. We take a holistic approach by evaluating multiple different factors before approving a tenant. This includes:

  • FICO score (if allowed by law)
  • Verified income
  • Rental history
  • Eviction history
  • Debt-to-income ratio
  • Applicable criminal history

  This data-driven approach ensures we select tenants who are financially responsible and likely to pay on time in full every month.

• 3. How Do I Avoid Fraudulent Applications?

  A shocking 15-20% of rental applications contain false information. We see everything from fake pay stubs and fraudulent landlord references to full on stolen identities.

  This is why reliable verification is key. We don’t just take an applicant’s word at face value. We cross-check income records, contact landlords directly, and confirm identity documents with both machine learning and a physical check. We ask for multiple copies of pay stubs and bank statements to catch inconsistencies.

  Placing the wrong tenant can cost thousands in unpaid rent, eviction costs, and property damage. Our thorough verification process helps eliminate fraud and protects your investment.

• 4. What Results Can I Expect from a Good Screening Process?

  A good screening process helps filter out bad tenants while simultaneously protecting you from fair housing violations. Historically, we have been able to achieve:

  • Less than a 1% eviction rate
  • More than 99.5% of rent collected in the month it is due
  • Hundreds of successful placements every year with more than 99.5% of rent collected in full the month it is due.

  We don’t just claim to have a great screening process, we have real numbers to prove it.

  Ultimately, tenant screening is one of the most high-risk and time-consuming parts of being a landlord. Between fair housing laws, fraudulent applications, and high-stakes decisions it’s easy to make costly mistakes.

  At Mesa Properties, we take the guesswork and subjectivity out of owning rental property. Our proven process, objective criteria, and strict verification methods ensure you get the best possible tenant—without the stress. Let us handle the details so you can own rental property without it owning you.