Finding good tenants dependant on being good landlords
Credit to Author: Claudia Kwan| Date: Tue, 03 Sep 2019 12:31:56 +0000
When it comes to a landlord picking the right tenants, there are things that are both legal and responsible to ask; it still requires being conscious of laws governing privacy and discrimination.
“The first thing you’re looking for is whether someone is able to pay rent on time,” says Hunter Boucher, director of operations for Landlord BC. “That is not the first and only thing. You also want to see if that person will respect the people in the neighbourhood and the building, and the unit itself.”
It is okay to ask about the source and amount of monthly income in order to ensure there will be enough income to cover the rent for the duration of the tenancy. The income is not necessarily coming from employment; it could be coming from income assistance, grants or a generous parent. You cannot discriminate based on a lawful source of income.
Next, Boucher says, landlords need to obtain relevant information without breaching privacy legislation. The task, he believes, is to find the balance between getting enough detail to make an informed decision, while also protecting the rights of everyone involved. As an example, he says both tenants and landlords need to be aware of what they’re doing when it comes to verifying someone’s identity.
“Often times, tenants will send over a copy of ID, like a driver’s licence, even without a landlord requesting it,” Boucher says. “It’s good to look at the ID to make sure that it’s not someone applying under a friend’s name. But you don’t want to collect that information (e.g. have the driver’s licence copy in email), because it presents a liability in this era of identity theft.”
It’s also important to maintain this awareness when checking references and credit; sensitive information may need to be removed from any documentation submitted, without affecting the status of the application.
Boucher says establishing a thorough, consistent process for listing a home for rental, and then screening for tenants is the best policy for everyone involved. It can ensure all applicants are being treated fairly, and that there are clear expectations around how to create a successful tenancy.
Here’s a quick checklist of possible topics for a landlord:
-ask what the tenant is looking for (e.g. # of bedrooms, parking, laundry): if he or she is looking for something that the unit simply doesn’t have, it’s not going to be a good fit
-ask why he or she is leaving the current home
-ask about how many people will be living in the unit to ensure compliance with bylaws
-ask about pets; this is part of getting to know each other
Boucher says if a landlord wants to find the right tenant, it’s incumbent upon him or her to self-educate about various responsibilities. That again will help set expectations around repairs and maintenance, and common space. If there are any grey areas – e.g. who gets to use a yard in a residence with multiple rental units – they should be discussed and put into a robust tenancy agreement right from the start.
Finding and keeping the right tenant also comes down to a landlord acting professionally. That means responding quickly to inquiries and maintenance requests, and setting up policies and procedures for issues that arise through the course of a tenancy, rather than just reacting to problems. That includes having a document and/or conversation about typical response times to phone calls and emails, the best way to get in touch and what constitutes an emergency.
Having procedures, policies, and documents set up can help landlords from feeling overwhelmed, especially when listing a unit for rent; in Vancouver’s incredibly tight rental market, it’s not uncommon to receive dozens of inquiries right away. Having a solid tenant selection process is the difference between simply accepting the first tenant that seems likely, and actually thinking about who a landlord is getting into a relationship with.
If it all seems like a lot to process, Boucher points out that Landlord BC membership includes access to a variety of resources, including a help line, industry-vetted tenancy agreement forms, and information about evolving legislation.
Boucher says a landlord is running a business, whether he or she has one unit or a thousand.
“What you’re entering into is a business relationship, and you have to show you’re professional and trustworthy,” he points out. “Set that foundation, and what you project is what you’ll get back.”