Tenant screening
The landlord's review of a prospective tenant: credit, background, income, rental history. Fair housing rules apply, so screening has to use the same standards for everyone.
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Part 1 of 4
Why a seller cares
Screening has to use the same standards for every applicant, because fair housing applies. A seller of a rental hands over the screening records with the lease, and a buyer who plans to rent will ask how the tenant was screened.
Part 2 of 4
A simple example
Your file shows the tenant was screened on income of three times rent, a credit check and rental references, the same as every applicant before them.
| The screening record | What it does at sale |
|---|---|
| Consistent standards, documented | Reassures the buyer and protects the seller |
| No records | A question the buyer cannot answer about the tenant they are inheriting |
| Standards that varied by applicant | A fair housing exposure that came with the tenant |
Screening is a process with a record, and the record is part of the file the buyer gets.
Part 3 of 4
What people get wrong
That screening is a gut call. It is the same test for everyone, in writing, or it is a fair housing problem.
Part 4 of 4 · where to read next
Where it appears in the sale
What a definition is, and what it isn't
Keighbor is a software company, not a law firm, brokerage, or tax adviser. This is general information, not legal, tax, financial, or real estate advice about your sale. Your situation may differ. Before acting on a contract, disclosure, title, tax, or pricing question, ask an appropriately licensed professional in your state.
Written and researched by Keighbor Research · drawn from the reference glossary · how we research and check what we publish
In your Room, this word explains itself where it appears.
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