How to Check Landlord References | Property Management

As a landlord, tenant screening is one of the most important things you do. In my opinion, landlord references are one of your most valuable tenant screening tools. This is definitely a place tenants can (and do) lie on their application, but there are several steps you can take to verify that the provided landlord contact information is correct.
More information on using the county assessor's website:
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[@mattschamel6550]

A good tip I've learned is, when calling a previous or current landlord, when they answer ask if they have any properties available for rent first. If the number provided is just a buddy or family member they will be caught off guard and reply that they don't have rentals. That can tell you if it's a legit landlord reference.

[@jennifer_loves_8766]

This is exactly what I do and I also call their landlord references from different phone number just incase they gave the family or friends my number ahead of time

[@stanfrymann8454]

In my state, management companies are reluctant to confirm anything beyond dates of tenancy. I have my questions printed on a sheet and have the prospective tenant sign an authorization for the management company to answer the questions.

[@sophiang2593]

great tip! Thank you very much for your sharing!

[@searchbug]

Definitely agree with you, Mandy! Background checking should be the top priority of landlords. While we are it, let me stress enough how important it is. Since the Jeffrey Dahmer case is all over the internet again following Netflix adaptation, we can see that there are mishaps that lead to killings. As a landlord, someone should background check him thoroughly, because of this, a lot of lives were taken, as well as the property of the landlord. It was reported that 15 months after Jeffrey was locked into prison, the Oxford Apartments was bought for $325k just to be demolished. Imagine how much the landlord could have generated if the killings didn't happen. So to all landlords out there, please do screen potential tenants thoroughly. If you see red flags, do not let them rent your place. Save yourself and other people from misery that dangerous people could bring.

[@leoncharles1431]

Thanks Mandy...God richly bless you and your family sis

[@mr.goodpliers6988]

Great info. You are well on your way to grooming a very professional approach to what you do. You are going to go places!

[@Daniel-lw1po]

thanks for the tips, im a first time landlord and found your ideas very good

[@ronaldjohnson3183]

Thanks for your video, Mandy. I just closed on a four-plex recently and will be putting your advice to work.

[@ItsMandy]

Congratulations on the fourplex!

[@raba650]

I was trying to remember your KZbin channel name, but forgot. Luckily, this video popped up on my feed. Subscribed!

[@OtherDalfite]

Hey Mandy, newcomer here and big fan of the channel! My mom just passed and I inherited her small home, which I'm hoping to turn into a rental property. Your videos are serving as some great starting foundation for me and I really appreciate you sharing the information for free. Subscribed.

[@ItsMandy]

So sorry to hear about your mom. Don't hesitate to ask if you have any questions. I'm definitely not an expert, but I will do my best to be helpful.

[@guven1001]

You are just amazing Mandy!!!! I love the intelligence and awesomeness. I took a not on all those questions. Getting ready to close on my first rental this month. Would love to connect and possibly ask some other questions as well. Thank you again!!!

[@teoweihan]

Hi Mandy! *waves back* Thanks for the sharing. I took notes especially on the various examples questions. I will be implementing them whenever i start to self manage. Its sad that we can't get our property managers to apply this level of checks and we end up with an approved (base on their checklist) tenant, but we have the gut feel that the tenant will not take care of the property that well and may trash the rehabbed pty.

[@ItsMandy]

Glad you found it helpful!

[@Aaaa-fw6wl]

Very helpful.We rented to people who did not have a good experience with their previous landlord and they give us hard time leaving the property now

[@altaroxllc3184]

Also, some local Police Dept's will give you their unofficial opinion of potential tenants. This depends on which state, town you are in, of course.

[@mariavargas4839]

Thank you, am new at this, we just close on our 2 rentals!!! Where do you go for the background check and credit. ma

[@dairysmoreta6108]

Mandy can you please give us a link to download these questionnaire please 🙏 😁

[@RealityRenovations]

My latest favorite question to ask the previous landlord “have you thought about selling” 😂

[@timothythompson4036]

Tenant screening is very important. Most of the problems can be avoided if you screen properly.

[@CoffeeAndBusiness]

The question I ask is, “ would you rent to this tenant again?”

[@Ks-di3xs]

Yes, had an applicant make a fake Facebook world. Blew my mind

[@mikewallin6049]

Home owner now but my previous landlord died...What would I put down on the application if I wanted to rent?

[@JenNotZ]

what site do you use for application/screening tenants?

[@duckling4393]

LOL...I was about to post that it was useless to contact current landlord because they will lie to get rid of the tenants, but I watched 'till the end and you explained it perfectly...hehehe...btw, as a current landlord, I will admit that I will say positive things about a current tenant just to get rid of them fast.

[@donaldlyons17]

You can see she wants the money and is taking advantage of the poor to get it. People like her make life harder for the less fortunate. Not that it is her fault but she is busy taking advantage and has no good reason to stop because it offers her an opportunity.

[@michellewhite6679]

Do you have anything else available in Blythe I can give you good reference

[@katehenry2718]

Ask landlord about their rentals that are different from yours so you can direct lookers to them if they need something other than what you have. Ask them about smoke and animals and cleanliness. Parents are good references. They 'll often say "thank GOd he's out of my basement. I can't stand him smoking in my house."

[@jorgearriaga7253]

Hi Mandy. Off topic some How do you reject potential renters

[@ItsMandy]

I've never had to reject anyone outright. When they send in the application, I just say "Thank you, I have received several applications. I will call references and let you know one way or the other by Friday." Then once I have picked a tenant, I call everyone else and say, "I wanted to let you know that the house has been rented, but I wish you luck in finding a place. If I see anything else come avliable I will let you know." That is how I handle it but I live in an area with very few rental properties. I usually get a lot of applications within a very short time period and some of those people have been looking for a house for months to a year.

[@sideofglam]

Saw Mandy's video and immediately clicked!

[@christianneyra6465]

What state do you own your homes?

[@hiteshshambhu]

My tenant shared her passport as ID proof but it's expired. She was born in UK and UK Citizen She is saying that she has no plan to renew in near future. Is it okay to accept expired passport as ID proof ?

[@jessicagonzalez166]

where do you go to see weather or not the potential tenant was paying personal property taxes? Im confused on that part

[@jessicagonzalez166]

also, do you know if you legally have to ask the same questions to each previous landlord (for non- discrimination reasons) ? or if you can ask extra questions to previous landlords when some details dont add up? great video, thanks!

[@ItsMandy]

For my county, the assessor's website also has the tax information listed. If they have a vehicle it should be registered at their address, so when you search their address it should show up under personal property and it will show if they are current or delinquent. Some counties may not have this information online. This isn't really an official screening measure - just gives you an idea of whether or not they pay their bills.

[@ItsMandy]

I don't think you have to ask the same questions. It would be difficult to do that even if you were trying since some people anticipate your questions and are a lot more forth coming than others.

[@shawmeck9323]

What can you do if you find out that the tenant was not truthful after signing the lease. 😮

[@melanieblue2]

Are they paying you rent on time? Some times they don’t list the current landlord because they also had a bad experience.

[@allaboutthecash5652]

If tenant is scamming you just give them a blue print on how to beat the system

[@sarahmauser3687]

no references.

[@avalaysha]

What if I’ve actually been renting from my mother for the last 2 years??

[@altaroxllc3184]

That will be a red flag to a LL. Living at home/with parents for a while is code for, "I got evicted for not paying rent in my last place, so had to go sleep on couch at my parents house for a year, until they now got fed up, and are throwing me out." 😃

[@aliu244]

I called a previous landlord, he was not nice. He said he had too many properties to remember who was I talking about. Finally I had to give up. The tenants live with her family current.

[@ItsMandy]

That's odd. He must have a lot of properties to forget a tenant, especially since I'm guessing you had the address. Well they must not have been awful or he surely would have remembered that. I would still feel kind of hesitant to move forward with the tenant without a reference though.

[@aliu244]

@@ItsMandy Thank you Mandy. He told me he had 70 units, he couldn’t remember. I did background check, credit check. I had phone interview with the tenant. I checked her Facebook etc. finally I rented my apartment to this family. It is very nice family. Thank you so much for your time! I love you KZbin.

[@ndukaanalogbei1043]

How do I get the details of a registered landlord.

[@jacksoceka9701]

FInd the county assessor's website or the city/town/village assessor's website and verify who the property owner is.

[@katehenry2718]

Ask personal references if they'd rent one of their own house rooms to the looker. Why not? Troublemaker? LOUD? too many drunk friends? Garage band? Pack of dogs? drug dealer? Slob? Can't hold a job? I've gotten some interesting answers.

[@YourLocalRealtor50]

what if its a young person just moving out of parents house?

[@ItsMandy]

What I did was save up my money during high school to move out. My younger sister is a senior in high school and works two part time jobs, McDonald’s on weekends and a doctors office after school. She has been working both those jobs for a year already. And during the summers she is able to work full time.

[@icessgray9580]

@@ItsMandy the question was if it’s a young person just moving out their parents house.. how would they be able to verify that information?

[@donaldlyons17]

@@icessgray9580 She know she is only interested in the richer ones who pay their bills on time to keep her rich. She is a total BIT*H to take advantage of others while not expecting them to lie to gain access to housing knowing they are there because they need it. As a person who had roommates I can say people only live where they are because the need a place to live which is why I will never do anything but a room rent person. No way I can buy a house to rent out and then run to the cops and the law and throw people out knowing I took advantage of them by buying a house just to exploit them. I have a since of conscious.

[@jacksoceka9701]

Get the parents to co-sign the lease or get a double security deposit. The parents can help with the secrit deposit.@@icessgray9580

[@cheriedavies6116]

My landlord yellls at everyone including his workers. He also blames everyone for reasonable repairs due to wear and tear. For example a pipe that was so old it rusted so bad there was a hole. I’ve been here 10 years and before that I was a homeowner. I’m nervous about getting a good reference even though I’m a stellar tenant

[@theropesofrenovation9352]

I'm pretty sure when we talk to the landlord about your tenancy, we'll get an idea about that landlord

[@glamnewz]

Some are phoney and hire a lot of temps

[@altaroxllc3184]

Don't worry, if your credit score is high, and you have no evictions or other police activity, and are otherwise clean on the background check, that bad LL won't hold you back.

[@glamnewz]

You want perfection. Wow.