Hello everyone. I am going to start the 21 day challenge. I have one rental house and am still in the learning process. I am wondering what people think about doing section 8 and would like to know what is the best way to screen tenants including section 8 tenants. Thank you all for your advice. --73.120.xx.xxx

Also search tenant screening or just screening and you will a great deal of info. --74.105.xxx.xxx

Welcome 6x6. Great to start your 21 days challenge with a question! I have bothe section8 and market rent units. Some people live in areas where dealing with one or the other poses difficulties. Perhaps a LL from your area will reply with how the section 8 office is to deal with. I have good tenants each has to be screened and both with simular but different methods. Are you renting a single family home or apartment? --99.203.xx.xxx

Take a deep breath. And cleanse your mind of these self destructive thoughts. --73.152.xx.xxx

Thank you all for your response. I am renting a single family home in Knoxville. I have actually owned the home for eight years. My first tenants did not work out as they quit paying. My second tenant damaged new wood flooring you can guess were. My third (last) tenants have been with me for seven years but are moving to another state. I haven't really had any trouble with them except for mold in bathroom. I know I have not been charging enough in rent and I don't have proper paper work I'm sure.These are the things I need to figure out as well as many other things. --73.120.xx.xxx

Talk to local landlords about your local S-8 office, you need to find out if they are OK or not if you want to rent to S-8. Also never rent to S-8 tenants with pets. Screen by signing up for the credit report service on this site ("credit reports" button at the top). Set it up well before you need it. Deny those with bad credit. Call previous landlords for references. Make sure they have enough income to pay the rent (typically around 3x). --74.70.xx.xx

Thank you Gwen for the advise. I already decided no pets. The person I talked to with section 8 office said there was no need to look at credit scores because most section 8 tenants do not have good credit or none at all. I guess you are referring to 3x the amount of there part to pay which I was told was 30% of rent amount. --73.120.xx.xxx

Interesting. My last move in section 8 tenant credit score was 580! --99.203.xx.xxx

plenty(MO) Thank you for your feedback. So should I look at there credit score and what is an acceptable number? Have you had any trouble with section 8 tenants more than a market tenant? --73.120.xx.xxx

Example: I was fresh out of college with no work experience in my field (education) and I hadn't worked a day in that field and had no rental history to speak of. No job, no income for 3 months waiting for school to start so I could get my first pay day. I had two silly little credit cards and a 720 credit score. So... just to show you how meaningless credit scores are! --173.20.xxx.xxx

Thank you Sid(MO) I will head your advice. All of you are very helpful I really Appreciate it. --73.120.xx.xxx