The screening standard
Five checks. Every applicant. No exceptions.
A bad tenancy costs a landlord far more than a vacant month. This is the process every applicant clears before you see their file.
The five steps, in short
- Credit check - full report, assessed against the rent
- Income verification - documented, not stated
- Employment verification - confirmed with the employer directly
- Landlord references - previous landlords interviewed, not just contacted
- One-on-one interview - expectations set before anyone signs
- 1
Credit check
A full credit report pulled through a screening agency.
Why it matters
Not just the score. Payment history and current obligations relative to the rent tell you far more about whether someone can carry a tenancy than a single number does.
What raises a flag
Recent collections, or a debt load that leaves too little after rent.
- 2
Income verification
Documented proof of income - pay stubs, employment letter, or notices of assessment for self-employed applicants.
Why it matters
Stated income on an application is a claim. Documented income is a fact. The two differ more often than you would expect.
What raises a flag
Reluctance to provide documentation, or figures that do not reconcile with the application.
- 3
Employment verification
Direct contact with the employer to confirm the role, the tenure and the income.
Why it matters
This is the step most often skipped, and the one that catches the most. A letter can be produced by anyone; a phone call to the actual employer cannot.
What raises a flag
An unreachable employer, or a contact number that turns out to be a mobile belonging to a friend.
- 4
Landlord references
Previous landlords contacted and properly interviewed - not a yes-or-no call.
Why it matters
Did they pay on time, every time? How did they leave the place? Would you rent to them again? The last question is the useful one, and the pause before the answer is often more telling than the answer.
What raises a flag
Only a current landlord offered, with no earlier reference. Sometimes a current landlord is keen to see someone move on.
- 5
One-on-one interview
A real conversation about the property, the building and expectations on both sides.
Why it matters
Most tenancy problems trace back to a mismatch nobody named at the start - pets, guests, parking, noise, how long they plan to stay. Naming them early prevents them.
What raises a flag
Vagueness about timing or occupants, or answers that contradict the written application.
What you receive
For each shortlisted applicant, a single summary rather than a pile of raw documents.
- Credit summary and assessment against the rent
- Income documentation and the ratio it produces
- Employment confirmation, including who I spoke to
- Landlord reference notes in full
- My read from the interview
- A clear recommendation, and the reasoning behind it
Screening is conducted in line with the BC Human Rights Code, the Personal Information Protection Act and the Residential Tenancy Act. Applicant information is collected with consent, used only to assess the application, and handled through Babych Group Realty Vancouver Ltd.. The decision is always yours - I recommend, you choose.
Ready to start?
A free rental assessment is the first step. No cost, no obligation, and nothing owed unless a tenant is placed.