No, even screening them you can get punked. You almost have to do a freaking DNA test nowadays.

 Screen everyone.  Credit and criminal background checks are important, but especially look for an eviction history, and/or a judgment for unpaid rent.  

Nope.  Credit and background checks ALWAYS.

Unless it's my mother, no way. 

When I help a Landlord find a tenant I always take them through a screening process.  I would "never" accept a tenant without proper vetting.  Not professional and an open door to disaster!

Jenifer Kynor - No. However, even after screening there had been issues with some tenants.

Too many horror stories in this business, and most were screened extensively.

Always screening: have to fill up the form with all detailed information, credit+fico, references, etc.

I have questions I ask upfront & it's backed up with a Credit Check later.

No, I always screen!

I would never proceed without intense screening.  Horror stories are available even when prospective tenants are screened.

We always screen.

No ! Way to risky

Hell no. It's not sane to do that even if you know the person. In fact, in my area the association wants to know you've screened them& ask for a background check to boot.

Yes, it turned out to be one of the best tenant ever.

I have never chosen a renter... I don't deal with them. But if I did, I wouldn't recommend someone select one without appropriate screening.

No never we always screen all our tenants.

I took a minister in w/o checking. Back then there were no FICO, credit search.  The next 5 years I had to beg her to pay rent. A kitchen fire, the very new home became a handyman special. After vacating, the next two years I had to answer calls from collection agency still looking for the church and minster from subsequent victims.    

Jennifer,

I am not understanding who your audience is in writing these articles.  We have worked with many commercial investors, and not only did we pre-screen people, our owners had their own system of screening which worked 99.9% of the time.  

The only crazy story we had is that we were going to show a large office space (10,000) to a NYSE company, which our owners looked up with their CPA.  The numbers looked great on the reported that was Certified by one of the top 7 firms.  The morning of the appointment, I noticed an article in the Wall Street Journal while drinking my coffee that the CEO had absconded with the funds...

Have we gotten so stupind that people don't screen?  A

Many times when dealing with members of the military services.

There are so many ways this can go sideways. Those who survived the Foreclosure crisis, each one has their volume of stories from the unintended landlord.

Not screening is the modified version of roulette, expect with only one empty chamber.

They all end with an attorney, the sheriff and a major refurbishment. 

As a landlord yes I have, but that was in the past when the world was a different place. Not anymore!

Not. A. Chance.

NEVER!!!!!!!!!!

🛑❌🚫

Never, and never would. What a huge risk, even though things can still go south even with through screening

Nope, never and even after screening things happen and it does not work out!

Screening is not a guarantee that you will get good tenants.  I rented a house a few years ago for a client. I received two offers, from other agents and my client chose the one that looked best on paper.  Rental application completed, Refences supplied, Credit Score was excellent, and employer letter submitted. Post dated cheques were submitted for the rent and all was well 8 months. when the landlord received an NSF notice from the bank.  Turned out they turned the house into a grow op for Marijuana and completely destroyed the house.  

Yes, on my own properties only, no major incidents or problems. As an agent I would make sure I would have my client's interests protected with a proper screening of potential tenants.

There are standard questions that are asked and must be answered before we all take the leap. Decades ago, if you had the money and looked and sounded normal no questions asked. Decades prior to that you could call the police and have someone thrown out so it didn't matter. Fascinating subject

I don't do rentals but my son and daughter manage many of their own rentals and they ALWAYS screen and even then have a a problem..not often but a few times.

decades ago, I didn't screen too well...today, I only rent to family.

No.  

Yes, great question. 
And the answers too. 

Intersting question and great answers. Thank you.

Never, ever!!!

I do not do property management, and would not touch it! 

I do not do property management but I would say you have to check everyone out.

I did years ago and it was just fine

I run criminal and credit checks on all my tenants as well as run them through the court databases of any county they've lived in for the past 10 years.  Plus I personally interview all applicants and get a "gut feeling" and heavily rely on that.  I've taken risks based on a positive gut feeling and have been rewarded considerably.  They pay on time and send me wonderful cards and texts on Thanksgiving, Christmas and New Years.

I don't deal with renters.

It most likely would not work out well. I screen all my tenants and my best sourch of screening, is meeting them at their current home as how they love now, is how they will treat my property

Background checks, credit reports & interviews are the minimum. Even interviews at their current residence doesn't guarantee a good tenant. Someone I know might avoid screening but the hooror stories can come with or or without it.

No property management for us!

no

We have rented to people we know without screening and it worked out fine.

I don't think I have.