Firstly, be careful who you accept as a tenant. Sorry property managers, but I insist on managing my own properties and I consider the most important
aspect of this to be tenant selection. I want to meet prospective tenants and see if I have a good feeling about them. Whatever your instinct tells
you it must be backed up with research. Once when I had had a shortage of suitable applicants for a property in Northland the “dream” tenant turned
up. I signed her up on the spot without a reference check or credit check. My gut feeling about her was dead wrong; it turned out much of what
she said was untrue and she did not always pay the rent. She did no damage to the property but left owing $1600 in rent arrears. I took her to
the tenancy tribunal, actually via a telephone conference call, and she agreed to repay the debt at $50 per week. She paid this some weeks and
not others but eventually we did get all the rent she owed. The lesson for me was, no matter how well someone presents, always do the credit check
(I use TINZ) and always do reference checks. Beware also of the company prospective tenants keep. I have had a promising applicant, with a good
credit record, but I was warned by a previous landlord that “while she is lovely if Dennis* is moving in with her he will be trouble”. When I declined
their application, this couple offered $30 a week more for the house but I stuck with my decision.
I use a very simple one-page application form, asking for full name, date of birth, occupation, contact details, previous addresses, referees, photo
ID...
