How do I find the right tenant for the inherited property?

If you are attached to the property you have inherited, then you certainly want to find a tenant who fits in well, who gets along with the neighbors and takes good care of the beautifully landscaped garden. But that's not the only decisive factor. While sympathy is important, you should definitely check all the important documents before deciding on a tenant. Otherwise you may be taken in by a rental nomad.

Once the tenant has the keys and is in the apartment, it is difficult to get him out again if he does not pay the rent on time. And if you do manage to get rid of the unloved tenant nomad after a while, he may leave a big mess behind. Checking the following documents will help you gain an insight into the finances and reliability of your prospective tenants:

• SCHUFA information or credit report from another credit agency
• Last 3 salary slips or other proof of income (e.g. for self-employed persons)
• Confirmation of no rental debts from the last landlord

To find someone who really suits your property, you should also have all prospective tenants fill out a tenant self-disclosure form before the viewing. Here you can ask questions about pets, the number of people moving in and other criteria. But be careful: under no circumstances should you give the impression that you are discriminating against certain groups. Religion, ethnic origin, gender, age or profession must not play a role in the selection of a suitable tenant.

You should only invite people who are willing to fill in all this information. In this way, you will avoid viewing tourism from people who are not really interested.

You can either attend viewings yourself or leave them to your estate agent. The latter can assess prospective tenants more objectively and will not be irritated by comments about the furnishings or the garden.

Do you need help finding a tenant? Contact us now with no obligation.

Photo: KatarzynaBialasiewicz