An official background check and personal referrals can help you identify red flags unrelated to finances, such as poor tenant behavior or previous criminal activity.

Hi Nadia, here's a few things to consider:Credit Score: Set a minimum, like 600-650.Income: Require 3x the rent in monthly income.Employment: Verify stable employment.Rental History: Check for positive rental references.Background Check: Make sure they don't have any criminal history.Security Deposit: Typically 1-2 months' rent.Pet Policy: Decide if you'll allow pets and set fees if needed.

After posting on the zillow, do I show the property to only those tenants whose credit/criminal and other background checks out?

And tenants that pass muster - good credit scores, stable jobs, good income, no criminal background, no evictions, etc - generally are responsible pet owners.

I get that side of things, but to me that seems like it should be almost criminal.

Hey, no offence to people that live there. 

This should be treated as criminal behavior

Stats.Most good rental agreements contain some language along the lines of "Tenant shall not engage in or allow others to engage in any criminal activity on the property."

I don't focus as much on crime because criminals have cars to and drive to the good areas to steal ac condensers also. 

They would have the right to call the note due, or worse, criminally prosecute you.Also, not everyone wants to live in one side of their rental property.