A healthy applicant pool is a good problem to have — but it's still a problem if you don't screen it properly. Here's a complete checklist for finding a tenant who actually pays on time and takes care of your property.
Step 1: Set Clear Qualification Criteria Before You List
Decide your minimum income-to-rent ratio (commonly 3x monthly rent as gross income), credit score threshold, and required documentation before applications start coming in — deciding criteria after the fact opens the door to inconsistent (and potentially discriminatory) decisions.
Step 2: Require a Completed Rental Application
At minimum, collect: full legal name, current address, employment details, previous landlord contact information, and consent for a credit check. Ontario landlords can request this information as part of a standard rental application process.
Step 3: Run a Credit Check
A credit report gives you insight into payment history and existing debt load — a strong predictor of on-time rent payment. Use a reputable tenant screening service rather than requesting sensitive documents be emailed directly.
Step 4: Verify Employment and Income
Request recent pay stubs or an employment letter, and don't skip a quick verification call if anything looks inconsistent. Self-employed applicants should provide recent tax documents or bank statements instead.
Step 5: Call Previous Landlords
Current landlords have an incentive to give a rosy reference to move a problem tenant along — a previous (not current) landlord tends to give a more honest picture of payment history and property care.
Step 6: Meet In Person (or Video) Before Signing
A brief conversation reveals a lot that paperwork doesn't — how they communicate, whether their story matches their application, and basic rapport that matters over a full lease term.
Step 7: Know What You Legally Can't Ask
Ontario's Human Rights Code prohibits screening based on protected grounds including family status, source of income (including social assistance), and several other categories — build your criteria around ability to pay and rental history, not personal characteristics.
The Bottom Line
Strong rental demand means you can afford to be selective — use that leverage to screen thoroughly rather than rushing to fill a vacancy with the first applicant. We have 12 step verification process to get a qualified tenants.
Want help finding and screening a qualified tenant for your GTA property? That's exactly what we do — let's talk. Call 647-259-8806 or email info@remaxpluscity.com . You can also visit gtalandlord.ca
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