AVOID BAD TENANTS

Although most of the tenants are good tenants, however there are some tenants don't behave well.

Avoiding bad tenants is a critical aspect of property management, as they can lead to unpaid rent, property damage, and legal issues. Here are strategies to minimize the risk:

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1. Thorough Screening Process: Implement a comprehensive screening process. This should include credit checks, background checks, employment verification, and checking rental history. Look for red flags like a history of late payments, evictions, or criminal activity.

2. Set Clear Rental Criteria: Establish and communicate clear rental criteria upfront. This includes income requirements (commonly, rent should not exceed 30-40% of the tenant's gross income), credit score minimums, and no history of evictions. Ensure these criteria adhere to fair housing laws.

3. Require a Complete Application: Insist on a fully completed rental application. Incomplete applications can be a sign of a tenant trying to hide problematic history.

4. Contact Previous Landlords: Speaking to previous landlords can provide insights into the tenant's behavior, including whether they paid rent on time, maintained the property, or caused any issues.

5. Verify Employment and Income: Ensure the tenant has a stable job and sufficient income to afford the rent. Request recent pay stubs or bank statements as proof of income.

6. Conduct Interviews: Meeting potential tenants in person can give you a better sense of their character and suitability. Observe their demeanor and professionalism during the interaction.

7. Trust Your Instincts: If something feels off during your interactions, it might be worth reconsidering the application. Instincts can be an important tool in decision-making.

8. Strictly Enforce Application Deadlines and Requirements: Being strict about deadlines and application requirements can filter out tenants who are disorganized or not serious about their commitments.

9. Educate Yourself on Tenant Laws: Familiarize yourself with local landlord-tenant laws to ensure you're not inadvertently discriminating against protected classes and to understand your rights and responsibilities.

10. Require a Security Deposit: Charging a security deposit can incentivize tenants to maintain the property well, knowing that damages could eat into their deposit.

11. Regular Property Inspections: Schedule routine property inspections to ensure the property is being well-maintained. This also signals to tenants that you are attentive and serious about property care.

12. Professional Property Management: If you're unable to manage the property yourself effectively, consider hiring a professional property management company. They have experience and resources to handle tenant screening and property management effectively.

13. Referrals: Sometimes, getting tenants through referrals from trusted sources can reduce the risk of encountering problematic tenants.

14. Credit check: if you want the tenant to do credit check themselves, make sure their credit report information is accurate with their names on the report and the information is matching what they do, most popular credit check tenant use is creditkarma and borewell or from their bank. However, it will be better if you can do credit check yourself. 

15. Criminal Record Check: https://justice.gov.bc.ca/cso/index.do

Remember, while you can take all these precautions, there is no foolproof way to completely avoid bad tenants. However, these steps significantly reduce the risks and help in making informed decisions.