I have all applicants fill out a detailed application form including present address, previous two addresses, present and previous landlords, date of birth, social insurance number, employer including term of employment, income, debts, personal references etc. etc. etc. This form is signed and authorises me to do a credit and background check.
I reject any applicant that has excuses for not completing the entire form.
I reject any applicant that states they know there rights under the RTA. It`s good to know your rights but waving them in my face as a threat is not a good way to start a relationship.
I interview every applicant in person and ask to see there drivers licence confirming they are who they say they are.
If they are really, really nice I suspect they are professional tenants.
I visit there present residence, call there employer, present and previous landlords and all personal references. I am careful to ask questions of contacts, employers, and landlords that will weed out "friends" of the applicant.
I do a credit check before I do any other checks. If they have bad credit or creditors chasing them in the past I inform the applicant they have not been accepted.
Avoid applicants with tattoos in obvious places (face, hands etc,), recently separated individuals, couples moving into there first place together, self employed and applicants not presently living in the area.
If the applicant is a woman that says she will be living in the apartment alone but shows up with a boy friend to see the apartment I reject. That boyfriend will inevitably move in and most likely would never pass my screening process.
Set minimum standards for applicants and never compromise those standards simply to avoid losing a months rent.
Study the RTA and know every article before accepting your first tenant or you will be sorry.........
