One of the biggest concerns for any landlord is finding the right tenant. A quality tenant can make all the difference to the success of your investment by paying rent on time, looking after the property and communicating openly throughout their tenancy.
At Abel Property, our leasing process is designed to reduce risk and provide landlords with as much information as possible to help them make an informed decision. While no screening process can guarantee a perfect tenancy, thorough due diligence significantly improves the likelihood of selecting a reliable tenant.
It Starts Before Applications Are Even Received
Finding the right tenant begins with effective marketing.
As soon as your property is listed, it is advertised across the major rental platforms and sent directly to our extensive database of prospective tenants who have previously enquired about similar properties. This allows suitable applicants to register their interest immediately, often resulting in enquiries from qualified tenants within the first few days.
To maximise exposure, we conduct home opens at least weekly (and more frequently where demand requires) to ensure potential tenants have ample opportunity to inspect the property.
Following each home open, we provide our landlords with a leasing update outlining:
- Number of attendees
- Enquiry levels
- Feedback received from prospective tenants
- Current market observations
- Any recommendations to improve leasing outcomes if required
Keeping landlords informed throughout the campaign allows us to work together to secure the best possible outcome.
Our Tenant Screening Process
Once applications are received, the real work begins.
Every application is carefully reviewed and verified before recommendations are made to the property owner.
Our screening process includes:
Identity Verification
We verify the applicant’s identity and ensure supporting documentation is consistent throughout their application.
This includes checking that:
- Identification is genuine.
- Current and previous residential addresses match the information provided.
- Ownership history or tenancy history aligns with what has been declared.
- Supporting documentation is consistent across the application.
Consistency is often one of the strongest indicators of a reliable application.
Employment & Income Verification
A tenant’s ability to comfortably afford the rent is one of the most important factors we assess. Rather than relying solely on payslips, we independently verify employment details by contacting employers directly.
This allows us to confirm:
- Employment status.
- Length of employment.
- Position held.
- Income details where appropriate.
- That payslips provided are consistent with the employment information supplied.
Stable, long-term employment often provides greater confidence in a tenant’s ability to meet their rental commitments.
Rental History
Rental references are one of the most valuable parts of the application process.
Where possible, we speak directly with the applicant’s current landlord or property manager, as well as previous landlords or managing agents. We generally review up to five years of rental history where available. During these conversations we discuss matters such as:
- Rent payment history.
- How well the property was maintained.
- Communication throughout the tenancy.
- Whether maintenance issues were reported appropriately.
- Whether they complied with the terms of their lease.
- Whether the landlord would happily rent to them again.
A strong rental history can provide valuable insight into how an applicant is likely to care for your investment property. People are often surprised to learn that personal references play very little role in our screening process. Friends and family naturally tend to provide positive feedback, making personal references less useful when assessing an applicant’s suitability.
Instead, we place greater importance on independent, objective references from landlords, property managers and employers who have firsthand experience with the applicant.
What Makes a Great Tenant?
Every landlord has different priorities, and there is rarely a “one size fits all” applicant. However, some qualities consistently stand out when assessing quality tenants.
Generally, strong applicants will have:
- Positive rental references.
- A history of caring for previous properties.
- Respectful communication.
- Stable, long-term employment.
- Reliable income.
- A demonstrated history of meeting their financial commitments.
- Home ownership history, where applicable, which can often indicate pride in maintaining a property.
Of course, every applicant’s circumstances are unique. Some excellent tenants may be renting for the first time after owning a home, while others may be relocating interstate or entering the rental market for the first time. This is why every application is assessed on its individual merits rather than against a simple checklist.
Why the Highest Rent Isn’t Always the Best Choice
It can be tempting to accept the applicant offering the highest weekly rent, but this isn’t always the best long-term decision.
A slightly higher rental offer should always be considered alongside factors such as:
- Rental history.
- Employment stability.
- Financial capacity.
- Length of intended tenancy.
- Overall suitability.
In many cases, selecting a reliable tenant who will care for the property and remain long term can deliver a better financial outcome than accepting the highest offer available.
Our role is to provide landlords with comprehensive information, professional recommendations and the results of our screening process. Ultimately, however, the final decision rests with the property owner.
Every landlord has different goals and priorities, whether that’s securing a long-term tenant, minimising vacancy, maximising rental income or finding an applicant whose circumstances best suit their investment. We ensure our landlords have the information they need to make an informed decision with confidence.
Experience Makes the Difference
Selecting the right tenant is about much more than simply reviewing an application form.
It requires experience, thorough investigation and careful consideration of each applicant’s rental history, financial position and overall suitability.
At Abel Property, we take the time to conduct comprehensive screening, provide honest recommendations and keep our landlords informed every step of the way.
Our goal is simple: to help reduce risk, minimise vacancy and secure quality tenants who will treat your investment property with the care and respect it deserves.