--45.17.xxx.xxx

Step one is to request a copy of their previous 6 months rental payments. That weeds out a large portion of deadbeats. --73.152.xx.xxx

I ask. When I get an application that I'm going to follow thru with that call I ask "before I call your current LL, are they aware you are looking? Cause I didn't want to be the one to let the cat out of the bag" or something like that. "Don't want to be the one to deliver the news" --172.59.xxx.xx

From a practical standpoint, my bad tenants never give me as their landlord reference, so normally, I am not doing anything but giving good references. Tenants are not chained in the basement. They are free to leave anytime they wish. Sometimes it costs them more to leave, as agreed to in the lease, but they can go whenever they want to. --76.178.xxx.xxx

I think that’s a good answer from the landlord you called though. Use it how you see fit. If you think they’re bad applicants, use it to reject. If you think they’re good, collect a double deposit or 1st & last months rent due to no landlord reference. Play the game. --24.152.xxx.xx

Bank statements and an in home inspection renders LL reference useless. --149.76.xxx.x

If set the bar of a credit score above the 700 hundreds that eliminates a lot of problem tenants. Look at credit reports where can see the previous landlords. If someone is moving around a few times a year along with unpaid utilities or other unpaid bills then that ends. One important question is ask if they have any apartments or houses for rent before a reference where if do not known what you are talking about then more likely a friend or relative. --207.236.xxx.xxx

A lot of times when I call for a reference they wont give them. The ones that will want you to email them a copy of them giving permission and a list of your questions. --76.129.xxx.xx

If I were requesting a reference, I would want to know those details among others. I would prefer someone leave if they are no longer happy, but follow the instructions to break a lease that they agreed to. I don't like surprises. --75.11.xx.xx

The landlord checking is fine, but be aware that even if the tenant says they have a "great" relationship with the prior landlord and can move anytime, recently 2 landlords would not let the tenant out of their month to month contract because they didn't give proper written notice. Tenants couldn't pay rent in two places so backed out. They were on the hook still with the prior landlord. I always ask now if the applicant has given proper written notice. --76.242.xx.xxx

Those also won't tell you if the tenant is crazy. I talked to one landlord who was kicking the tenant out because she kept reporting that the electric wiring was sparking inside the walls. He paid three times to have an electrician check the wiring and she had the fire department out so many times that they would no longer respond to her calls. She had asked me about the wiring when she applied. A well qualified couple so I was grateful for the warning that she was a nutter. That does not show up on the bank statement or in the inspection. --76.178.xxx.xxx

In the hood the game is "pass the trash" .... making LL references useless. --198.168.xx.xxx

Tryan brings up a good point, reach out not to the current landlord but the previous one. You need to do the current inspection though --24.101.xxx.xxx

--73.103.xxx.xxx