Questions to Ask Tenant References

[Cassandra Brown]

First time landlords here. We are just beginning the tenant screening process. What are some key questions to ask tenant references? Categories include: personal references, employers, and landlords?

Also welcoming any other tenant screening advice/rules of thumb!

[Kyle J.]

@Cassandra Brown  I don't call personal references because I assume the applicant's friends/relatives are going to say they're a great person (even if it's not true), so for me it just wouldn't be that helpful.  

However, I do call current and former landlord references as those can be very insightful into how the applicant is (and will continue to be) as a tenant.  Here's a list of questions I'll ask those references: Top 10 Questions to Ask a Past Landlord When Screening Applicants.

Hope that helps.