Tenant Screening
Choosing the right tenant is one of the most important steps in protecting your investment. Thorough tenant screening helps reduce the risk of rent arrears, property damage, and tenancy disputes, while increasing the likelihood of a successful, long term tenancy.
Under the Residential Tenancies Act 1986 and the Privacy Act 2020, landlords must collect and use prospective tenants’ personal information fairly, lawfully, and only for legitimate tenancy purposes. Guidance from Tenancy Services also recommends applying the same screening process to every applicant to ensure decisions are fair and non-discriminatory.
Our Tenant Screening Process
We take a comprehensive and consistent approach to selecting quality tenants by:
- Verifying identity and contact details.
- Confirming employment and income.
- Contacting previous landlords and rental references.
- Assessing rental history and tenancy conduct.
- Carrying out credit and background checks where appropriate and with the applicant’s consent.
- Evaluating each application against consistent selection criteria.
Fair & Compliant Selection
Tenant selection must comply with the Human Rights Act 1993, meaning applicants cannot be treated unfairly based on protected grounds such as age, sex, race, disability, family status, religious belief, or ethnicity. Our screening process focuses solely on factors relevant to the applicant’s ability to meet their tenancy obligations.
Why Use a Professional Property Manager?
Effective tenant screening requires experience, consistency, and an understanding of New Zealand tenancy legislation. We help protect your investment by:
- Conducting thorough background and reference checks.
- Following Privacy Act and Human Rights obligations.
- Applying a consistent, legally compliant screening process.
- Selecting tenants based on objective, relevant criteria.
- Reducing the risk of tenancy issues and costly disputes.
- Complying with your insurance requirements
The right tenant can make all the difference. Our professional screening process gives you confidence that every application has been carefully assessed, helping to secure reliable tenants while ensuring your legal obligations are met.