What are Your Landlord Legal Right for
Tenant Screening? Landlord Tenant Rights

• You can choose tenants who will most likely be able to pay the rent on time.

• You can choose tenants who will most likely be able to meet the requirements and terms of your rental agreement.

• You have the landlord tenant rights to carry out background and credit checks on your tenant applicants as long as you have their written permission.

• When you reject someone as your tenant, you do not have to inform him although it will be polite for you to do so.

• However If you reject someone due to his credit report, you are required to give him an Adverse Action Notice.

• You can take as long as you need to choose your perfect tenant although you will be losing rental income if you take too long.

• The person is unable or willing to complete the tenant application form. As long as it's allowed by the law, you have the landlord legal right to demand that your rental application form is accurately and fully completed.

• You can reject someone based on negative information in his credit report such as poor credit scores or bad debt history.

• The person's previous landlord gives him or her poor feedback. This may include issues as as the person not paying his rents on time, failing to keep the property clean tidy and not getting along well with the neighbours. It is within your landlords rights to contact his former landlord for references.

• In most areas, it's within your landlord tenant rights to reject someone if his total income is too low compared to the rent payments. As a general thumb of rule, his income should be at least 3 to 4 times more than the rent.

• The person will be housing too many occupants for your property size. For example, if you are renting a two bedroom apartment, you can refuse renting your property to a family of seven.

• You have the landlords rights to refuse someone as a tenant if he has a pet who will be living on your rental property. However, you general cannot reject his pet if it is essential for his well being. An example will be guide dogs for the blind. Click here for more details on pets in rental properties.

• If you find that the person has a glaring attitude problem such being too demanding or unreasonable, you have the landlord legal right to reject him.

• The person is not able to afford all the necessary costs including the first month's rent and security deposit when it's time to sign the rental agreement.