Forum Archive

The recent topic on credit checks was helpful, but I’m wondering if any landlords could share a quick list of everything that you ask for in a tenant application. I haven’t done it myself in a long time, and the last time I did it, it didn’t work out well. This time, I’ll do a credit check, although I know it doesn’t tell the whole story. I’ll also get their social security number, in case things go south like last time. But what if they don’t have an ss#? What do you get as a substitute? Is it unreasonable to ask for a copy of a recent bank statement, especially if they’re newly employed and don’t have 3 recent paystubs saved? And what if they need a guarantor, what do you ask for from them?

In general, if anybody has a checklist of all the things you ask for in a tenant application, or can point me towards a good website that has such info, that’d be incredibly helpful.