(Objective 1: Understand why and how landlords screen applications and how to prepare.)
Ask participants to assume that they just inherited a rental property and they are looking for a new tenant. What would they want to know about applicants before renting to them? Provide Handout 1: The Rental Application Process, then list the questions you would want answered before you rented to someone.
Ask them to share some of their ideas and list them on a whiteboard or flip chart. Be sure the following items are on the list:
- Do they have sufficient income to pay the rent?
- Will they pay the rent?
- Will they keep up the rental unit?
- Will other tenants complain about them?
- Are they honest when filling out the application?
