Last Updated: Monday, July 27, 2026

30+ Questions To Ask Tenant References

Table of Contents

Is It Necessary to Ask for References?
Questions to Ask Tenant References
Let Eaton Realty Screen Tenants For You
Resources:

Owning investment properties can be a great way to build financial stability. However, being a landlord can be a lot of work, from choosing good tenants to managing maintenance issues to dealing with legal problems like eviction.

One of the most important decisions that a landlord will make - after choosing the right property - is picking a tenant. A great tenant will pay their rent on time, get along with neighbors, and not damage the property. Asking for references as part of the application process can help you find such a renter. Our list of questions for tenant references can help you get the information you need to make a smart decision.

Eaton Realty works with landlords throughout Hillsborough County. Our property management team can help you find an investment property and will manage your rentals to help you maximize profits. Reach out today to talk to a team member about our property management services.

Want to learn even more about how to attract better tenants for your Hillsborough County rentals? Contact us to speak with an experienced Hillsborough County property manager.

Is It Necessary to Ask for References?

As a landlord, it is a good idea to have a screening process for tenants. While you aren’t required to screen tenants, most landlords do some basic due diligence before agreeing to rent their unit to someone. After all, you don’t want to rent to someone who will skip out on rent, damage your property, or otherwise cause issues.

While tenant screening doesn’t guarantee that you won’t have a problem tenant, it can reduce the risk of renting to someone who won’t take care of the property or pay their rent. A basic screening usually includes:

A rental application;

A background and credit check;

An employment history check; and

References

References can include anyone with insight into an applicant’s ability to be a good tenant, such as a current or former landlord, friends or family members, and professional references. You may even request one reference from each category to get a fuller picture of the tenant’s qualifications as a renter.

Typically, you will want to talk to more than one reference to understand the applicant better. This is particularly true regarding landlord references, as a current landlord might be motivated to shade the truth a bit to get rid of a problem tenant. You can also ask for letters of reference, although most landlords prefer to talk directly to a reference instead of reading letters that might provide little detail.

Screening tenants - including checking references - can take some time. It also requires some knowledge of federal and state law regarding landlord-tenant relationships. An experienced Hillsborough County property management company can handle these tasks for you and help you have a successful experience as a landlord.

Questions to Ask Tenant References

Once you have references from tenants, the next step is to contact them and ask them questions. Certain questions may be illegal to ask - such as inquiries about a prospective renter’s race, religion, disability, sex, and family status. A property management company can help you develop a screening process that won’t lead to a housing discrimination charge.

Before calling references, you should have a set of questions to ask. This will help to ensure that you cover all bases and don’t ask any off-limits questions. These questions should be tailored to the reference type (personal, professional, or landlord).

Questions for Personal References

Personal references - such as family and friends - can be tricky. After all, even if an applicant has a checkered history of renting, their family and friends might not disclose that. If you ask for personal references, remember this reality when you assess what each individual has to say about the prospective tenant.

How long have you known the applicant?

What is your relationship to the applicant?

Can you describe the applicant’s character?

How does the applicant handle conflict?

To your knowledge, does the applicant have a history of missed rent payments?

To your knowledge, has the applicant ever been evicted?

To your knowledge, has the applicant ever caused damage to a rental unit?

If you were a landlord, would you rent to the applicant?

If you have spent time in the applicant’s home, what was its general condition?

Does the applicant smoke or have pets?

Questions for Professional References

One of the biggest concerns for most landlords is whether or not a tenant has a stable income and will therefore be able to pay rent. A professional reference - such as an employer - can confirm a prospective tenant’s income. They can also provide some insight into how responsible the applicant may be.

How long has the applicant been employed?

What is the applicant’s job title?

What is the applicant’s salary or hourly wage?

Is the applicant an employee or an independent contractor?

If the applicant is an employee, are they full-time or part-time?

Does the applicant report to work consistently and on time?

For former employers, why did the applicant leave their position?

How would you describe the applicant’s character?

Do you enjoy working with the applicant?

Is there anything else that I should know about the applicant?

Would you rent to the applicant?

Take notes of these answers and compare them to the rental application. If the applicant claims an inflated salary or job title that doesn’t match what their boss says, that may be a red flag.

Questions for Current or Former Landlord References

Previous or current landlords are often the best possible references - at least from a property investor’s perspective! While a boss or a friend can offer insight into who the applicant is as a person, they may not know how they are as a tenant. That is why talking to a current or former landlord can be a valuable screening tool.

How long has the applicant been a tenant?

Has the applicant ever missed a rent payment? If so, how many times did it happen?

Has the applicant ever paid rent late? If so, how long did it take for the applicant to get current on rent?

If the applicant was ever late or missed a rent payment, how amenable were they to work out a plan to get caught up?

Has the applicant ever caused damage to the rental unit beyond normal wear and tear? If so, how serious was the damage?

Was the damage accidental or intentional?

To your knowledge, how does the applicant handle conflict?

Has there ever been an issue between the applicant and other tenants?

Would you rent to the applicant again?

Does the applicant smoke or have pets?

Did the applicant follow all rules related to noise, trash, and other issues?

Is there anything else that I should know about the applicant?

Asking an open-ended question - in addition to specific queries - can be a great way to learn information that you might not think to ask about otherwise. For example, the landlord might mention that the applicant allowed a friend to move in for a few months and that it created a parking problem.

Let Eaton Realty Screen Tenants For You

Your success as a landlord is based in large part on the tenants who rent your units. While you can’t guarantee that a tenant will pay rent on time and not cause problems, a thorough screening process can help minimize the likelihood that you will rent to someone who will be a proverbial thorn in your side. Requesting references and then asking them smart questions can help you make a more informed decision about renters.

Based in Lithia, Florida, Eaton Realty has deep experience in the Hillsborough County real estate market. Our property management team can screen and place tenants for you. Once a tenant is placed in your rental, we can manage the property and the relationship with the tenant so that you can spend more time enjoying passive income and less time actively managing your rentals.

To learn more about our services, fill out our online contact form or call our office at 813-672-8022.