Tenant screening

Batman and Robin were a team. They were a Dynamic Duo, just like your background check and rental agreement. But the team only works for you if you use them both. Background checks can help you eliminate people you don’t want in your property. Rental agreements will help you deal with people on a month-to-month basis.

Most landlords know about leases. But many landlords who rent month-to-month often don’t have any rental agreement at all. That’s silly. Rental agreements work for month-to-month renters the way leases work for longer terms: they lay out terms and conditions.

Some of the rental agreements are the kind you get at the stationery store. They’re one-size-fits all and may not fit your situation.

If you’re renting your units month-to-month, the rental agreement can make your tenants behave and help you with tenant screening. To get a rental agreement that works for you, start by drafting your own. Include everything you think is important or that will be helpful. Then have some other people review it

Include basic details about the rental. How much is the rent? When is it due? When and how are penalties for late payment assessed? What happens at the end of the month? […]