The Landlord's Tenant Screening Checklist (2026)

A bad tenant costs more than a vacant unit. Eviction in most US states runs $3,500–$10,000 by the time you factor lost rent, legal fees, and turnover. A disciplined screening checklist is the single highest-ROI thing a landlord can do.

This is the exact checklist we recommend, in the order you should run it.

Before you list — set written criteria

Fair Housing law requires you to apply the same standard to every applicant. Decide your minimums in writing before the first showing:

• Income ≥ 3× monthly rent (gross)
• Credit score minimum (typically 620–680)
• No evictions in the last 5–7 years
• No felony convictions in the last 7 years (case-by-case where required by local law)
• Verifiable employment ≥ 6 months at current job, or equivalent
• Positive references from the last 2 landlords

Step 1 — Pre-screen on the first call

Five questions before you ever schedule a showing:

1. When are you looking to move in?
2. Why are you moving from your current place?
3. What's your monthly household income?
4. Have you ever been evicted or broken a lease?
5. How many people and pets will be living there?

Step 2 — Require a complete application from every adult

• Full legal name, DOB, SSN (for credit/background pull)
• Current and previous 2 addresses with landlord contacts
• Employer name, supervisor, phone, length of employment
• Two months of pay stubs or 2 most recent tax returns for self-employed
• Government-issued photo ID
• Signed authorization for credit and background check

Step 3 — Verify income

Don't accept pay stubs at face value. Verify them by:

• Calling the employer's main HR line (not the number on the stub)
• Checking that pay stub dates and YTD math line up
• For self-employed: 2 years of tax returns + last 3 months of bank statements

Step 4 — Run credit and background

Use a tenant-screening service (TransUnion SmartMove, RentSpree, etc.). Look for:

• Score above your written minimum
• No collection accounts from prior landlords or utilities
• Debt-to-income ratio under 40% after the new rent
• No active bankruptcies (discharged ones are usually fine)

Step 5 — Call previous landlords

Skip the current landlord first call — they may want a problem tenant gone. Call the previous landlord. Ask:

1. What were the move-in and move-out dates?
2. What was the monthly rent, and was it paid on time?
3. Did they receive their full security deposit back?
4. Were there any complaints from neighbors?
5. Would you rent to them again?

Step 6 — Document the decision

Whether you approve or deny, write down which criterion drove the decision and keep it on file for at least 4 years. If you deny based on a credit report, federal law (FCRA) requires you to send an adverse action notice with the bureau's contact info.

Special case: Section 8 (Housing Choice Voucher) applicants

In a growing number of states and cities (CA, NY, NJ, MA, CT, MN, OR, WA, plus most major metros), refusing to rent to a Section 8 tenant solely because they have a voucher is illegal source-of-income discrimination. You still apply your normal screening criteria — but the voucher itself counts as income.

For a deeper walkthrough, see our Section 8 landlord guide.

Red flags to take seriously

• Offers to pay 6+ months upfront (often a sign of unverifiable income)
• Refuses to provide previous landlord contact
• Pay stubs from an LLC owned by the applicant
• Pressure to skip the application or "just sign the lease"
• Major inconsistencies between application and credit report addresses