Finding the right tenant: How to avoid rental nomads
If you rent out your property, you naturally want a reliable and suitable tenant who will look after the flat and get on well with the neighbours. But sympathy alone is not enough - a thorough check of prospective tenants is crucial to avoid unpleasant surprises. Here you can find out how to choose the right tenant and give rental nomads no chance.
Important documents for tenant selection
Before you hand over the keys to the flat, you should definitely check the financial circumstances and reliability of the prospective tenant. You should therefore request the following documents:
- SCHUFA information or credit report from a recognised credit agency
- Proof of salary: The last 3 proofs of income or, in the case of self-employed persons, other proofs such as tax assessment notices
- Confirmation of no rent arrears: A confirmation from the last landlord that there are no rent arrears
Tenant self-disclosure: Obtain information at an early stage
In order to narrow down the selection before the viewing, interested parties should Tenant self-disclosure fill in. Here you can ask questions about:
- Number of people moving in
- Pets
- Planned rental period
Important: Make sure that you do not ask any discriminatory questions. Criteria such as religion, ethnic origin, gender, age or profession must not play a role in the selection process - this would be illegal.
Organise viewing appointments efficiently
To avoid unnecessary viewing tourism, only invite prospective tenants who have provided all the information. This will save you time and allow you to concentrate on serious candidates.
You can either carry out the inspection yourself or have a Broker leave it to the estate agent. An estate agent can assess prospective buyers more objectively without being influenced by comments on the furnishings or the condition of the garden.
Advantages of a thorough tenant selection
By carefully scrutinising prospective tenants, you can:
- Find reliable tenants who pay on time and look after the property
- Avoiding rental nomads and payment defaults
- Securing long-term tenancies
