How to Find Good Tenants: Listing, Screening, and Choosing

Finding good tenants starts with where you list, what you put in the ad, and how you screen. You want a clear process so you fill the unit with someone who pays on time and takes care of the property—and you stay within fair housing rules. This article covers listing, applications, credit and references, and how to choose. For tying applications, screening, lease signing, and renewals into one workflow, see Lease Management: From Application to Renewal. For your legal obligations when advertising and screening, see Fair Housing for Landlords; for pet fees, deposits, and ESA rules, see Pet Policies for Landlords; for after they sign, see Move-In and Move-Out Inspections and When Is Rent Due?.

Where to List Your Rental

List where renters look: national and local listing sites (Zillow, Apartments.com, Facebook Marketplace, Craigslist, and regional sites), your own or your property manager's website, and word of mouth. The goal is visibility so you get enough applications to choose from. If you list in only one place, you may miss strong applicants. Many landlords use a property management platform like Rezides to publish listings to multiple channels and collect applications in one place. For where to spend your marketing budget and how to track leads, see Rental Marketing Budget: Where to Spend and How to Track Leads; for when to list and how to price so you minimize empty months, see How to Minimize Vacancy.

What to Put in the Ad

Include the basics: address or area, rent amount, deposit, lease term, move-in date, and what's included (utilities, parking, pets). Add a short description of the unit and any rules (e.g. no smoking). Be accurate—misleading ads waste everyone's time and can create legal risk. Avoid any language that suggests you prefer or exclude people based on protected characteristics (e.g. "perfect for young professionals" or "no children"). Apply the same criteria to every applicant; for the rules, see Fair Housing for Landlords.

How to Screen: Application, Credit, and References

Use a written rental application that asks for name, contact info, employment and income, rental history, and consent to run credit and background checks. Set clear, consistent criteria up front (e.g. income at least 3× rent, no evictions in the last X years, positive landlord references). If you charge an application fee, disclose it up front and follow your state and local rules—see Application Fees for Landlords: What's Legal and How to Comply. Run a credit check (with the applicant's consent) to see payment history and debt. Call current and prior landlords and, if you can, verify employment. Document why you approved or denied each applicant so your decisions are based on legitimate, nondiscriminatory reasons. For credit reports, background checks, and your obligations under the FCRA (including adverse action notices), see Tenant Screening: Credit, Background Checks, and FCRA Compliance. Screening well reduces late payments and turnover—so you spend less time chasing rent or reletting the unit.

How to Choose (and Stay Compliant)

Compare applicants against the same criteria you disclosed. Choose the first qualified applicant in the order you defined (e.g. first-come-first-qualified, or best credit score among those who meet the minimum). Do not change the rules for one person or reject someone because of a protected characteristic. If you deny someone, give a lawful, documented reason (e.g. income below threshold, negative landlord reference). Once you select a tenant, collect the deposit and sign the lease; then do a move-in inspection and hand over the keys. For the inspection checklist that protects you and the tenant, see Move-In and Move-Out Inspections. For setting due dates and collecting rent, see When Is Rent Due?.