Being a landlord in New Zealand is a journey that comes with plenty of rewards, but as anyone who has owned a rental property for a while will tell you, it also comes with its fair share of late-night worries. Usually, those worries revolve around one central question: “Do I have the right people living in my house?” Your property is likely one of your most significant investments, and the person you choose to live there has a direct impact on your financial returns and your peace of mind.
The property managers you choose are your partners in this journey. Finding a tenant is about filling a vacancy, yes, but it’s also about finding someone who will help you to look after the home as if it were their own. Long-term tenants are pure gold these days, which is why so many people choose to use tenant screening services for landlords. It’s so helpful when navigating the complexities of the modern rental market.
If you’re mired in handling each background check for rental applicants, or you don’t want to screen rental applicants when you’d rather be getting on with life, working with a property manager is the key.
But how do we make sure we present you with a great list of potential tenants? We’ve put together this guide to answer that question.
1. The first impression really matters.
When we screen rental applicants, the process actually begins much earlier than most people think. In fact, it starts at the very first viewing. When we meet people at the property, we are already forming a picture of who they are. Are they on time? Are they polite? Do they ask thoughtful questions about home maintenance? These small interactions provide a level of “real-world” insight that we really value here at Aspire, because they tell as a lot about the long-term potential of incoming tenants.
2. We implement an applicant screening system.
The sheer volume of information can be overwhelming for a private landlord to manage, especially when you are trying to balance your own job and family life. This is why we screen rental applicants systematically.
The number one thing we look for is consistency. If the story they tell us at the viewing matches the details on their application, it’s a great sign that we are starting a relationship based on honesty. However, if there are gaps in their timeline or if their current living situation seems a bit vague, that is our cue to dig a little deeper.
3. We get technical about tenant backgrounds.
Digital documents can be easily edited these days, which is why we take doing our due diligence very seriously. Performing a background check for rental applicants means verifying that a person is who they claim to be. We use a variety of identity verification tools to ensure that the passports or driver’s licenses provided are valid and current, which is the foundation upon which all other checks are built.
Any thorough background check for rental applicants also includes checking the Tenancy Tribunal records. We double-check to see if the applicant has been involved with any previous disputes that reached a formal hearing. Many cases are simple misunderstandings, but we make sure to dig into the details here to look for signs of rent in arrears or significant property damage, both of which are red flags that we take very seriously on your behalf.
4. We check on financial and historical records.
Once identity is confirmed, we move into the financial and history checks. Our professional tenant screening services for landlords offer a level of detail that is often difficult for private individuals to access. We look into credit histories to understand a person’s relationship with their financial obligations.
A low credit score isn’t always an automatic “no” (we understand that life happens), but it does prompt a conversation. We look for patterns of behaviour. Are they consistently meeting their commitments, or do they have a history of defaults? This financial clarity is vital to ensuring the rent is paid on time, every time.
Across the board, we make sure to walk through every step while carefully complying with New Zealand’s Privacy Act. This is an ever-changing set of laws that can trap some landlords in a bit of a bind if they are unaware of their obligations, but it’s our job to stay on top of these things. The Privacy Act in New Zealand has very clear rules about what information you can and cannot ask for during the application stage. For example, you cannot request bank statements or birth certificates at the initial stage without a very good reason.
This is why our integrated tenant screening services for landlords are here. To help ensure that nothing is missed and everything is compliant with the law. This is how we ensure every potential tenant is treated fairly and with respect, while securing a tight list of thoroughly screened tenants to occupy your property.
Ultimately, we find that the best way to screen rental applicants is to look for that “click” between the person and the home. When a tenant truly loves where they live, they are much more likely to stay for several years. This stability is the “holy grail” of property investment because it eliminates the costs of vacancy and re-letting fees.
We look for people who are at a stage in their lives when they are seeking stability, as this leads to a much more harmonious and profitable experience for you, the owner. On top of the other boxes we tick (as you can see above), this results in long-term relationships that satisfy the tenants and landlords under the Aspire umbrella.
Ready to find your next great tenant?
We are Aspire Property, your trusted property management experts! Join our network of happy Kiwi landlords who have access to our landlord tenant screening services. Our team manages over 1,000 properties, and we are here to provide friendly, expert guidance every step of the way, ensuring your property is in the best possible hands.
Reach out to the friendly team at Aspire Property today so we can have a chat about filling your next property.