Tenant Screening Questions: Common Questions, What You Can & Can’t Ask
Meeting with potential tenants for your rentals can be an interesting situation. You get used to it over time. But it can’t help to feel a little weird or awkward or just unusual at first. For new landlords or owners, it can come with some questions. And one of those is about the questions you take to the tenants. What can you ask? It’s actually important to think about, since legally speaking there are some things you can and can’t say. What are the right tenant screening questions that will help you while also keeping things legally legit? Right there is the first, most important question.
Being prepared with the right questions can help you in so many ways. As one of the premier Atlanta Georgia property management companies, we’ve done a lot of thinking on the matter. And a lot of research on local laws. Let’s dive into this topic and explore many of the best tenant screening questions you can be ready with as you meet with your potential renters.
Table of Contents
- A List of Common Tenant Screening Questions
- What You Can and Can’t Ask
- How a Good Property Management Company Could Help
A List of Common Tenant Screening Questions
When you’re renting out your property, screening tenants is where it all starts. You want someone responsible, respectful, and hopefully low drama. And while there’s no magic question that tells you everything, asking the right stuff upfront can give you a pretty solid read. It’s not about grilling people… it’s just about starting an honest conversation that sets the tone.
We do a lot of this, and the more natural and human the interaction feels, the better it usually goes. Most people expect a few tenant screening questions, so there’s no need to feel weird about it. Just be friendly, be thorough, and go with your gut when something feels off. Here are 10 solid questions that help get that conversation rolling:
What’s your reason for moving? This one helps get context… whether it’s a job change, needing more space, or wanting to be closer to family, it can tell you a lot about someone’s current situation.- How long are you hoping to stay? If someone only wants to stay a few months, you will want to know that.
- What’s your monthly income? You’re not trying to pry… it’s just a way to make sure rent is doable for them. A good rule is income that’s at least 2.5 to 3 times the rent.
- Can you tell me about your rental history? This opens the door for stories about past places, whether good or bad. You’ll hear a lot more than just yes or no.
- How many people would be living here? It’s an easy one, but it matters. Especially for things like occupancy limits.
- Do you have any pets? If your unit has pet policies, this is the time to talk about them.
- Are you comfortable with a credit and background check? This is standard, but asking it like this feels more personal and less like a red-flag warning.
- Have you ever had to break a lease? This can bring up all sorts of helpful context. Maybe it was a tough situation, or maybe it’s a red flag. Either way, it gives you a sense of how they handle challenges.
- Do you have any questions for me? Always good to end with this one. You’ll learn a lot by what they care about, and it shows that you’re open to being transparent too.
What You Can and Can’t Ask
When it comes to screening tenants, you’re totally allowed to ask a bunch of things that help you figure out whether someone is a good fit. Questions about income, rental history, job situation, and even pets are all fair game. You’re trying to make sure they can pay rent on time and will treat your place with respect—completely reasonable stuff. You’re also in the clear asking about how many people would live in the unit, whether they smoke, and if they’re okay with credit/background checks. These are the kinds of questions that help you protect your property without crossing any lines.
That said, there are definitely things you can’t ask… and it’s super important to know where the line is. Anything that touches on race, religion, gender, national origin, family status, or disability is off-limits. These are protected under the federal Fair Housing Act, and you don’t want to open the door to anything that could conflict with discrimination laws. So, for example, asking someone if they’re married, or what country they’re from, or even how many kids they have… those might seem harmless but can land you in trouble. Even if you’re just making small talk, avoid anything that seems tied to a personal trait like that.
There are also some Georgia-specific laws to be aware of. For example, Georgia law makes it clear that housing discrimination based on age, race, disability, or familial status is not allowed. If you’re unsure whether something crosses the line, it’s worth checking out the Georgia’s fair housing division, Georgia’s fair housing laws, and related guides. They break down what landlords are and aren’t allowed to do when screening tenants.
How a Good Property Management Company Could Help
Landlords and owners know: very day that a property sits vacant translates to potential lost income. Finding the right tenant can be a stressful and time-sensitive process… hence having screening after screening. However, the right tenant screening questions and having standardized qualification policies are important to a landlord’s success.
With professional property management, landlords and owners don’t have to worry about how to find the best tenant. At Bay Property Management Group, our staff of industry experts uses legally compliant and time-tested methods to fill vacancies. So, if you own a rental and are concerned with vacancy or just want to maximize your investment, give us a call today. We provide property management in Midtown and Atlanta areas, as well as Texas, Maryland, Massachusetts, and numerous other areas.
