Tenant Screening Playbook
Write fair criteria, verify income and history, and document every decision.
9-page PDF · printable · instant download
- Instant download
- Secure checkout by Square
- All sales final · download problems fixed or files resent
- Print or use on a tablet
The problem
Why this guide exists
The landlords who get burned, or get in fair housing trouble, are almost always the ones going by gut feel. Great interview, says the right things, you skip calling the last landlord. Three months later the rent stops.
The whole game is three rules: write your rules first, apply them the same way to everybody, and write down every decision. This playbook turns that into eight steps.
Who it's for
- Landlords filling a vacancy now
- Owners who've been burned by a 'nice' applicant
- Anyone who wants a process that holds up to fair housing scrutiny
Who it's not for
- Anyone who wants a way to screen people out for reasons outside written criteria
- Anyone looking for legal advice on a specific denial
What's inside
Chapter by chapter
- 01
The whole game in three rules
Write rules first, same rules for everybody, document every decision.
- 02
Step 1 — Write your rental criteria
A criteria template you fill in once.
- 03
Step 2 — A listing that screens for you
What to put in the ad.
- 04
Step 3 — The 5-minute pre-screen
Questions before you show.
- 05
Step 4 — The application packet
What to collect.
- 06
Step 5 — Verify everything yourself
Identity, income math, two landlord references with a call script, credit and background.
- 07
Step 6 — Decide with the sheet
The pass/fail decision sheet and three possible outcomes.
- 08
Step 7 — Send the answer in writing
Approval, conditional approval, denial and adverse-action basics.
- 09
Step 8 — Keep records, lock them up
What to keep and how.
- 10
Reasonable accommodations & red flags
Plus a one-page screening checklist.
Look inside
Real pages from the PDF
The whole game in three rules
Write rules first, same rules for everybody, document every decision.
Step 1 — Write your rental criteria
A criteria template you fill in once.
Step 2 — A listing that screens for you
What to put in the ad.
Step 3 — The 5-minute pre-screen
Questions before you show.
🔒 Inside the guide
🔒 Inside the guideStraight from the guide
Real examples you'll find inside
Do the income math yourself
Pay stubs show $1,150 every two weeks. $1,150 × 26 ÷ 12 = $2,492/month, plus a $943 SSI letter = $3,435. Just under a $3,500 rule. Close isn't a pass. Apply your written conditional policy, the same way for anyone.
Call two landlords, not one
The current landlord may give a glowing review to get rid of a problem. The previous one has no reason to lie. On 'Would you rent to them again?', listen for the pause.
Spot the fake reference
Look up the property in county records and make sure the 'landlord' actually owns it. Fake references are usually a friend or family member.
Example numbers are illustrations from the guide, not promises.
After you read it
What you'll be able to do
- Write rental criteria before you list
- Verify income and history yourself
- Make a decision you can explain with one sheet
- Send denials the right way, in writing
Format
- 9-page PDF
- Printable on letter paper, or use on phone/tablet
- Checklists you can reuse on every tenant
- Instant download after secure Square checkout
- Links also sent by email
Also included in the full bundle with all 5 guides for $49.
All sales are final
Because guides are delivered instantly, all sales are final. If a file doesn't work, email ownersadvantages@gmail.com and we'll fix it or resend your files.
Who wrote this
Fernando Castro
- Navy veteran
- Owns multiple rental properties
- Multiple real estate investments
- Has done multiple subject-to deals
- Licensed real estate agent
I'm a landlord who learned the hard way. Every checklist in here exists because something went sideways without it: a deposit I couldn't prove, a renewal I left too late, a notice I almost got wrong. The Navy taught me to run things off a checklist, because a checklist doesn't have a bad day. So I wrote mine down. Straight answers, real examples, no fluff.
Questions
Does it tell me which screening service to use?
No brand picks. It covers what to look for in the credit and background report and how to use it consistently.
Is there a reference call script?
Yes, six questions, word for word.
How do I get it?
Pay through Square, and the download links show up right away and arrive by email. Links work for 72 hours, so save the PDFs.
Is it state-specific?
No. It flags every spot where your state or city rules matter so you know exactly what to look up.
Can I print it?
Yes. Standard PDF, prints clean on letter paper, or use it on a phone or tablet.
Refunds?
All sales are final because guides are delivered instantly. If a file doesn’t work, email ownersadvantages@gmail.com and we’ll fix it or resend your files.
Is this legal advice?
No. General education only. Check your local law or talk to a licensed attorney for a specific situation.
General educational information only — not legal advice. Laws vary by state and city; check your local law or consult a licensed attorney.