--108.201.xx.xx

All the other rent pay stuff can be checked with LL references and court searches. --50.4.xxx.x

I do not do that,most of my tenants do not even have bank accounts although the ones who do are better tenants.David you charge half month move in fee? what is that for? just because you can because they will pay it? --74.77.xx.xx

It is also a leverage tool: if the applicant just barely meets my requirements, I require them to pay all the movein fee. If the applicant far exceeds my requirements, and politely negotiates, I MAY lower it --50.4.xxx.x

ALso, when I have multiple vacancies, I can use the carrot of a lower movein cost to fill a less desirable unit . --50.4.xxx.x

Rent on! --149.76.xxx.xxx

Maybe, but then what will you live on? Credit cards that will use up next month's rent! --68.229.xxx.xxx

--99.23.xxx.x

Three months bank statements? Are you taking marginal applicants? A credit report shows their spending habits and is a better indicator of their WILLINGNESS to pay. Having money in the bank doesn’t mean they’re willing to part with it. I’d take an applicant with a 700 FICO and 3x income over a 550 FICO with 6 figures in the bank any day. --73.177.xxx.xx

Jason [VA]), I don't accept anyone with a 550 FICO period. For that matter, I haven't accepted anyone with a 700 FICO for years. --108.201.xx.xx

credit cards will show up on credit report,....but the bank debit cards give you a line by line detail on where the dollars are going --67.49.xx.x

David,interesting,I thought only landlords in NY city could do that,get what the barket will bear.ED,what is your minimum credit you accept? I am barely over 700 myself,that being said i wouldnt rent to myself for other reasons anyway.The thing is i had a 780,I bought a truck about 3 years ago and have not missed payments on the truck or credit cards or anything and it went down to about 710 where it has stayed since then --74.77.xx.xx

I was asking to proof rent payment for the last 12 months, telling that the best way was to show me a bank statements with the rent amount. --74.90.xx.xx

Try asking. What's the worse that can happen? They say "I don't have a bank account?" Even my 20 something kid has a bank account. Do you want a renter that you can't ACH the funds from? Do you want someone who is living payday to payday? Maybe in a rooming house but not in a single family home. Not me, no way. Negative Ghost Rider. --65.188.xxx.xxx

I ask for the last 6 months proof of rent payments. Sometimes they'll give me bank statements as proof. It's easy enough to redact the account numbers if they're concerned about security. --216.131.xx.xx

Usually their prior landlord will let me know if they pay rent on time. If they are moving from one of those big apartment buildings that won't give references to anyone, I'm probably going to reject for no landlord references. But if they really seem good, then they are going to have to prove they paid rent on time throughout covid with whatever method, receipts, bank records, whatever valid proof they can come up with. --76.178.xxx.xxx

Ken, you just created my next post --73.120.xx.xxx

My last step is the in home cleanliness check. --149.76.xxx.xxx

I understand how some of you charge more - and your reasons seem valid. I just want to get paid for the hour and 15 minutes of going over rights and responsibilities. Where many people want to avoid contact with their customers, I feel it ever so important to train them up front --24.101.xxx.xxx

I do charge a $175 carpet cleaning/replacement fee when they move out taken from their deposit (Its in the lease) --73.89.xxx.xxx

I think I've only missed a couple of rent payments with those eight properties over 10 to 12 years. And that was because his roommate was defrauding him out of the rent he gave his roommate to give to me. I've never had to evict anybody. --67.8.xxx.xxx

I think I've only missed a couple of rent payments with those eight properties over 10 to 12 years. And that was because his roommate was defrauding him out of the rent he gave his roommate to give to me. I've never had to evict anybody. --67.8.xxx.xxx

DD, you should write an article that outlines your operating systems. I can’t make any money dealing with the unbanked, cash employment crowd. --149.76.xxx.xxx

Yes. I have noticed from other posts that there are lots of different markets and different A,B,C and D type units which is like a category within a market. I started off with a "D" 3 family a long time ago. Right now I would call all my units "B". --73.89.xxx.xxx

We currently ask for last 30 days paystubs that must have their name/address/dates and amounts on them and if they are self employed or otherwise have a less "stable" or trackable form of income then we ask for most recent 30 days bank statements. I think we may start asking for multiple months after reading this, it just makes sense. Also, we don't check credit (or if it is on their report, we rarely take it into account unless their score is directly linked to landlord payments) because we see many who rent are renting because they don't have the credit to buy. What we put our biggest stake in is their previous rental history. Many people might have not great credit due to medical issues or other things that might have been beyond their control (I worked in a collection agency for 6 years prior to becoming a property manager) but that doesn't mean they won't make their rent a priority. I have also had people with plenty of income and saved funds that still didn't pay rent because they were just bad with the money they had. I think there is a lot that goes into play with tenants and screening, but what their previous landlord has to say about them generally is going to tell you more than anything else. Our biggest questions is "Would you rent to them again?" --173.23.xxx.xxx