Hello,

I am in the process of finding a new tenant without the help of a broker. The prospective tenant is asking me a lot of questions before I can start mine.

They want to know how many people live in the lower unit which can change in future.

I will appreciate if someone can share me a questionnaire to ask a new tenant.Also I would like to include in lease a way to have an exit strategy as a landlord in the event of transfer of ownership.Appreciate your inputs.

Thanks

Ask them if you could stop by their house, if their eyes go wide or if they have a huge pause before they speak, you can probably be assured that they don't take care of their place! I'd also ask questions like 

Who will be living with you AND will anyone else move in over the course of your tenancy?

What might interrupt your ability to pay? 

Who are your emergency contacts and can they afford to pay rent?

Are you a smoker?

Why should I choose you over other applicants?

This is more about not giving up control of the process.  Remember - what starts out crazy ends crazier.  Simply ask "why do you ask" to some of those questions that are unrelated to the available unit.  Let them know that you are not willing to disclose information about the other tenants or the property to those who have not made formal application.  Redirect by asking them what their housing needs are, do they work at home, who will live there, do they have pets, and that a security deposit/renter's insurance/utilities are required of the tenant.  What not to ask is even more important; don't ask about past criminal convictions/charges, specific questions about children or disabilities.  Those fall under Fair Housing Act - and the criminal one has become a major legal challenge against landlords in failing to provide housing to those who have served their "debt to society" or whose crimes were not recent.  

Use your first meeting to present your property and to determine if you're attracting the right tenant quality.  Hope this helps...  

@Patricia Steiner

Thank you!

Originally posted by @Peter Morgan :

Hello,

I am in the process of finding a new tenant without the help of a broker. The prospective tenant is asking me a lot of questions before I can start mine.

They want to know how many people live in the lower unit which can change in future.

I will appreciate if someone can share me a questionnaire to ask a new tenant.Also I would like to include in lease a way to have an exit strategy as a landlord in the event of transfer of ownership.Appreciate your inputs.

Thanks

 I keep it simple 

I list for rent on Zillow stating how much they need to prove they make    And how much their FICO needs to be 

I put a Google created phone number to call.   when they call I never answer.   I text a canned reply 

Thank you for calling about the rental at xyz lane.  I would be happy to show you the property.  Please fo here and have your background screened.  with a link to fill out the cozy criminal background and Fimancial  check they pay Cozy something like $39 I state if your results are are satisfactory we can have you take a look 

To the people who pass that step I text back and tell them the day and time when I will be showing the property. Usually 10AM on Saturday 

Show everyone the place text them a copy of the lease.  

Call the ones I like and choose from there