Worried about missed rent payments, property damage, or worse?
Avoid getting stuck with nightmare tenants… look out for these 10 tenant red flags on rental applications and during screening.
10 Red Flags Every Landlord Should Know
1. Past Evictions
If your tenant applicant has a record of evictions or conflicts with former landlords, this can indicate a pattern of bad behavior that could lead to issues like non-payment, property damage, or excessive noise complaints after quiet hours.
While some applicants may have understandable reasons for previous evictions, multiple incidents are a major red flag.
Always verify your references by contacting their previous landlords, and avoid relying on the applicant’s personal accounts.
Related content: How to Evict a Tenant in BC, Canada
2. Unstable Income
Want to avoid missed or late rent payments?
Then make sure your tenant has a reliable source of income.
Frequent job changes or unsteady income are signs of financial instability that could impact your profitability in the future.
Ask for proof of income or an employment verification letter to be sure of your applicant’s employment status.
Related content: How to Verify Tenant Income in BC
3. Incomplete Information
When you get a complete and thorough application letter from a tenant, it shows commitment, openness, and respect.
Applications with missing info, vague statements, or few details can indicate a lack of responsibility, effort, and even honesty.
If the application form is incomplete, it could mean the renter is trying to conceal something important about their work history or financial situation.
If you’re on the fence with a tenant, be sure to ask for clarifications.
Honesty and transparency from the start are invaluable.
4. Oddly Glowing References
Positive references are usually good news, but if you’re reading an excessively gushing or exaggerated reference, there’s a good chance it’s a fake.
To prevent fraud, cross-reference landlord and employer contacts independently, and ask questions that require detailed responses rather than generic affirmations.
Genuine landlords can provide nuanced insights into an applicant’s behavior and financial responsibility.
5. A Criminal Record
Be wary of any renter with a criminal record.
Offenses like fraud, theft, or assault are major red flags and strong indicators that you’re dealing with an ‘antisocial’ person.
Conduct thorough background checks to learn about your tenant, but balance this with fair judgment on whether their past actions will affect your property or community.
Make sure to have heart and consider each case individually as some criminal offenses might be a thing of the past and irrelevant to your tenant-landlord relationship.
6. Reluctance to Provide Financial Information
Applicants who hesitate or refuse to share financial details may have credit issues or past bankruptcies — a clear indication of financial problems that might affect your rent payments.
Make sure you verify your potential renter’s credit score, lawful income, and employment history. Don’t just take their word for it!
7. High Maintenance or Overly Demanding
High maintenance tenants with unreasonable expectations can be a real nuisance for landlords.
They make frequent demands for maintenance, property modifications, or the addition of new amenities. Those requests eat up your time and expense budget, while causing you stress and straining the landlord-tenant relationship.
While most occupants are polite and reasonable, potential tenants who come into the viewing with a negative impression about your property’s current state are more likely to become high maintenance in the future.
First, you’ll spend more time and money on maintenance, increasing your expenses.
Second, high maintenance tenants are more likely to be unsatisfied and move, increasing your tenant turnover rate.
So, how can you identify a high maintenance tenant?
If they ask extremely detailed questions about repairs and upgrades, or negotiate excessively over small details, there’s a good chance you’ve got a high maintenance tenant.
Your best move is to check their past rental history and talk to their references.
8. Urgency to Move In
While some tenants genuinely need housing quickly, if you sense a strong urgency to rent your property, it could mean they’re facing eviction elsewhere.
Be wary of any applicant unwilling to follow the regular screening process or who pressures you to expedite the timeline.
Never skip due diligence or be willing to ask the tenant for their backstory.
9. Disrespectful Behavior
Be wary of potential tenants who make negative comments about your property, the neighborhood, or show a lack of common courtesy during the viewing.
Disrespect during a property viewing can indicate that they may be difficult, non-compliant, or just unpleasant to deal with.
Ideally, seek tenants who dress decently, like the property, and speak to your team with respect.
Whatever behaviour you experience during the screening process is likely to continue throughout your rental agreement.
10. Overcrowding or Extra Guests at Showings
If your tenant brings along unexpected guests to the showing, it can mean other people may plan to move in — without your knowledge or permission.
Make sure your applicants are aware of the occupancy limits in your lease agreement, and verify that only the listed tenants intend to occupy the space.
Learn more: How to Handle Unauthorized Tenants in Your Rental Property
Closing Thoughts
Each of these tenant red flags provides valuable insights that can help you minimize potential issues with nightmare tenants.
By screening carefully and watching for these 10 warning signs, you’re taking proactive steps to protect your rental property and foster a positive experience for both you and your prospective renter.
Remember that landlords in BC can’t discriminate against prospective tenants based on race, color, ancestry, place of origin, religion, marital status, family status, physical or mental disability, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, age, or lawful source of income.
Kelowna Property Managers | Vantage West Realty
Every rental property owner wants dependable tenants, but spotting red flags can take time, experience, and diligence. That’s where we come in.
At Vantage West Realty, we don’t just hand over the keys and hope for the best.
Working with us means you get professional service with the personal touch you deserve—and a better chance at long-term tenants who respect your property.
We handle every detail of the tenant screening process, watch for the signs that could signal trouble, and manage your property with an eye toward long-term success.
Ready to make your property management experience hassle-free?
Reach out to Vantage West Realty today to learn how our services can make a difference for you: Contact us today.