How To Find Tenants: Guide For Landlords (2026)

What Makes a Good Tenant?

Selecting good tenants often makes the rest of rental property management easier. It’s not always easy to know whether someone will be a good tenant during the screening process, though.

You might start by looking for tenants using general criteria like these:

• Meet your income requirements
• Don’t have a history of severe property damage
• Have no past evictions or have maintained a stable rental history since eviction
• Have strong credit profiles
• Don’t have concerning criminal backgrounds

Tenants should also be able to cover upfront fees like security deposits and the first month’s rent.

Set Clear Tenant Screening Criteria

Advertising and attracting applicants is important, but without clear tenant screening criteria, you’ll just be making more work for yourself.

The criteria you set are up to you. Many landlords require tenants to make 2.5 to three times the rent each month, and some set a minimum credit score requirement. You should also decide whether the rental will be pet-friendly and whether you’ll charge a pet fee if it is.

Best Places to Advertise Your Rental

It’s generally wise to list your rental on platforms like Apartments.com or Zillow. Sites like these are more likely to turn up quality leads.

Pre-Screen Renters and Schedule Showings

Pre-screening questions can quickly narrow your applicant pool. Consider asking questions like these:

• What’s your monthly income?
• What is your desired move-in date?
• Can you pay the deposit and first month’s rent?
• Do you have any pets?

If an applicant seems promising, you may invite them to tour the unit.

Review Applications and Run Tenant Checks

You should carefully read applications and compare them against your criteria. Running background and credit checks is highly advisable, too. If the application process includes any of these checks, you should disclose that fact early in the process.

Fair Housing Rules for Choosing Tenants

Be careful to avoid illegal discrimination as you screen tenants. The Fair Housing Act prohibits discrimination based on protected characteristics, and some cities and states have expanded fair housing rules. Double-check your jurisdiction’s fair housing rules before you start your search.

Sign the Lease and Onboard Your Tenant

This is the final step in the process. Once you’ve chosen a tenant and they’ve agreed to move in, sign the lease and collect the security deposit and first month’s rent. A smooth, organized tenant onboarding process creates a good first impression, and it can set the tone for a successful landlord-tenant relationship.

Don’t Rush the Process

It might be tempting to try to get each rental filled as soon as possible. But if you don’t screen carefully, you might find yourself sending an eviction notice and repeating the screening process again. It pays off to choose renters thoughtfully and with intention.