Great question @Marcie Nowacki

First-time renters are tricky because the usual check, a past landlord reference, just isn't there.

For the report itself, most landlords I know use one of the standard screening services like TransUnion SmartMove or the one built into tools like TurboTenant or Avail. The applicant pays, and you get credit, eviction and background in one go.

With no rental history, the rest carries more weight:

Income. Pay stubs, an offer letter or bank statements. Many landlords look for around 3x the rent.

Employment. A quick call to the employer goes a long way.

A co-signer or guarantor if income or credit is thin. Very common with first-time renters.

One more tip: write your criteria down and use the same ones for every applicant. It keeps things fair and protects you too.

Is this for your first rental, or are you adding to a few you already have?

At 236 properties, screening is a system, not a gut call. Lee's list is right — I would add two things from the operator side. First, screen to protect the rent math. My houses rent at numbers that have to clear the 1% rule all-in, and one bad placement costs more than a vacant month ever will, so the criteria get written down and applied the same way to every applicant, first-time renter or not. Second, do not sleep on Section 8 for a first-timer with thin history. Here in Memphis the voucher pays $1,395 to $1,950 on a 3BR+, and the housing authority's portion of that rent shows up every month. Thin rental history matters a lot less when most of the rent is guaranteed.

Marcie, congrats on the first property, that's exciting. With first time renters I like to just talk to them on the phone for a few minutes before anything else, because how someone explains their situation tells you things a report can't. And whatever you decide to look for, write it down and treat everybody the same.

Randy, Bunklow

thanks!

Try TurboTenant

Marcie, Lee covered the report side well. For first-time renters I'd add a written screening criteria sheet that you give every applicant (income multiple, credit floor, no prior evictions and so on) and apply the same way to everyone, which keeps you consistent and on the right side of fair housing rules. Verify income yourself, for example by calling the employer at a number you look up rather than the one on the application. If someone is borderline, a qualified co-signer or a larger deposit within your state's limit is a reasonable middle ground.

@Marcie Nowacki first-time renters are tough because there's no rental history to lean on. What's worked for me is writing my criteria down ahead of time, income, credit, references, whatever you settle on, and applying it the same way to every applicant. That keeps it fair and keeps you on the right side of fair housing rules. For someone without history, employment verification and a reference from a boss or someone who's known them a while can tell you a lot. Most online screening services cover credit, background, and eviction checks, so pick one that's allowed in your state and stick with it. Good luck with the first one.

Hi Marcie,

Congratulations on your first property! That's a big moment, and you're doing it the right way by thinking it all through before anyone moves in.

Since it's your first, the one thing I'd add is to write your process down while it's fresh: your criteria, the questions you ask on the first call, what you check and in what order. It feels like overkill with one property, but it keeps you consistent, and the day you buy the second one you won't be starting from scratch.

Randy's tip about a short phone call first is a great one too. You learn a lot from how someone tells you their story.

Wishing you a great first tenant. Where's the property?

Cheers,
Lee

Marcie, since it's your first property, the best protection is deciding your standards before the first application comes in. Put them in a one-page sheet: minimum verified income, what you'll accept for credit and eviction history, and which items are automatic declines. Then apply it the same way to every adult applicant.

For first-time renters with no landlord history, verify what you can actually verify. Ask for the last two pay stubs or an offer letter and confirm the employer yourself, using a number you looked up rather than the one on the application. Look at bank statements for a pattern of steady deposits. A solid income with thin credit is often a better bet than a decent score with unstable income.

Use a paid screening report that includes credit, eviction and criminal records, and have the applicant pay the fee. If the numbers are close, a qualified co-signer is a common fix, but screen the co-signer to the same standard.

One more habit: record the date and reason for every approval or denial in writing. Screening rules are regulated, so check your state's requirements. Not legal advice.

Happy to compare notes by message.