References Are Not a Formality
A reference from a previous property manager is the most useful piece of information in a tenant application. It tells you how the applicant has performed in the role of tenant: whether they paid on time, communicated well, maintained the property appropriately, and departed without incident.
A reference check that involves an actual phone call to the previous agent, rather than a written form that can be submitted without verification, provides much richer information. Ask directly: would you rent to this person again? The answer is usually informative.
Income and Employment Verification
Rental stress is the primary driver of payment problems in most tenancies. A tenant who is spending more than thirty percent of their gross income on rent is under financial pressure that tends to show up first as late rent, then as arrears.
Verify income from the original source: payslips, employment letters, or tax return summaries. For self-employed applicants, bank statements provide a more realistic picture than stated income.
Rental History and National Databases
Tenancy database checks through services like TICA or equivalent platforms identify applicants who have been listed for rental default, property damage, or tenancy breaches. A listing does not automatically disqualify an applicant but should be understood in context: what was the nature of the listing, when did it occur, and what has happened since.
At The Rental Managers, we conduct thorough screening on every applicant before presenting one for approval. In over 35 years of managing North Queensland properties, the correlation between thorough screening and long, trouble-free tenancies is as strong as any pattern we have observed.
