Finding tenants for your rental property in Texas can be one of the trickiest parts of being a landlord. With a growing number of reliable methods to screen your tenants, you may find a lot of valuable resources at your disposal to verify the reliability of the people you accept as tenants.
Doing adequate research to learn more about potential tenants can help you identify red flags before they create an issue. As a result, you may more effectively reduce the risks of a costly tenant-landlord dispute.
Ask the right questions
One of the best ways to learn more about people interested in your property is to ask them questions. However, it is important to abide by the Fair Housing Act and refrain from asking questions about race, gender, religion and disabilities among other things. Requesting this type of information is a violation of federal law and could result in legal repercussions.
There are plenty of other questions you can legally ask, however, that can supply you with valuable information during your decision-making process. According to The Motley Fool, some of the questions you can ask include the following:
- Can you afford the required move-in fees?
- Do you own pets?
- Have you faced eviction before?
- Why do you want to move from your current home?
Identify your expectations
Another way to prevent disputes is to clearly articulate your expectations from the start. Outline your criteria and provide context. Your rental agreement is a great place to discuss what you expect and what repercussions will follow for dissatisfactory behavior.
You can reiterate your expectations when you meet your new renters. This is also a good time to tell them what they can expect from you in return.
