Tenant Screening Checklist for Hinesville Landlords

Placing the right tenant is the single most important decision you make as a landlord. A good tenant pays on time, cares for the property, and gives you a stable income. A bad tenant can cost thousands in unpaid rent, repairs, and legal fees.

Here is the screening process we use at RE/MAX All American for every applicant.

1. Written Application

Every adult who will live in the property must complete a written application. The application should collect:

• Full legal name and date of birth
• Current and previous addresses (at least 3 years)
• Employment information and income
• Social Security Number (for background and credit checks)
• References: previous landlords and personal
• Pet information if applicable
• Consent to run background and credit checks

Verbal applications are not enough. A signed application protects you legally and signals to the applicant that you run a professional operation.

2. Credit Check

A credit check reveals how an applicant handles financial obligations. Look for:

• Score: A score above 620 is generally acceptable for a market-rate rental. Below 580 raises concern.
• Payment history: Late payments on credit cards or loans are less concerning than late rent payments or evictions.
• Collections: Medical collections are common and may be acceptable. Collections from landlords or utilities are a red flag.
• Debt load: High debt relative to income can indicate future payment problems.

Apply the same credit standards to every applicant for the same property. Changing standards between applicants is a Fair Housing violation.

3. Income Verification

The standard rule: gross monthly income should be at least 3 times the monthly rent. For a $1,500/month rental, you want at least $4,500/month in verifiable gross income.

Verify income with:

• Recent pay stubs (last 30 days)
• W-2s or tax returns (for self-employed applicants)
• Military LES (Leave and Earnings Statement) for service members
• BAH documentation for military applicants

4. Criminal Background Check

A national criminal background check is standard. Georgia law and Fair Housing regulations require you to apply the same criteria to all applicants.

Generally, convictions involving violence, property crimes, or drug manufacturing in the recent past (7 to 10 years) are grounds for denial. Each case should be evaluated individually based on the nature of the crime, how long ago it occurred, and evidence of rehabilitation.

Important: Arrests without convictions should not be used as grounds for denial.

5. Eviction History

An eviction filing is one of the most reliable predictors of future eviction. Search both court records and tenant screening databases.

A single eviction from many years ago with context (job loss, medical emergency) may be acceptable. Multiple evictions or a recent eviction is a strong reason to decline.

6. Landlord References

Call previous landlords, not just the current one. Current landlords may give a positive reference simply to get a problem tenant out of their property.

Ask previous landlords:

• Did this tenant pay on time?
• Did they take care of the property?
• Did they comply with lease terms?
• Would you rent to them again?

7. Make a Decision

Once you have completed screening, compare the applicant to your written screening criteria. Criteria should be applied consistently to every applicant.

Acceptable grounds for denial:

• Credit score below your stated minimum
• Income below the 3x rent requirement
• Recent eviction history
• Criminal history per your stated policy
• Negative landlord references
• False information on the application

Unacceptable grounds for denial (Fair Housing violations):

• Race, color, national origin
• Religion
• Sex
• Familial status
• Disability
• In Georgia: source of income protections may apply in some jurisdictions

Let Us Handle It

Tenant screening is one of the most important and most legally sensitive things a landlord does. At RE/MAX All American, we screen every applicant using this process and more. Our screening is Fair Housing compliant, thorough, and designed to protect your investment.

To learn more about our tenant screening process, call us at (912) 432-7300 or email rentalsremaxallamerican@gmail.com. We are here Monday through Friday, 8:30 AM to 6:30 PM.