How do you know if someone will be a good tenant?
The simple answer is: You can never know with 100% certainty.
A good screening process helps you make a more informed decision. It doesn't predict everything that may happen during a tenancy.
For me, screening doesn't start with a credit score.
It starts with the first conversation.
Step 1 — Ask a Few Basic Questions Before the Viewing
Once someone is interested in the property, I first want to know whether the home actually fits what they're looking for.
Simple questions might include:
Why and When are you looking to move?
How many people would live in the property?
I may also ask about their current housing situation and what they are looking for in their next home.
The purpose isn't to investigate someone's personal life.
It's to answer one practical question:
“Does it make sense for both of us to spend time on a viewing?”
And the same basic process should be applied consistently rather than asking different applicants different questions based on personal characteristics. Alberta human-rights protections apply when landlords advertise, review applications and select tenants. https://www.albertahumanrights.ab.ca/issues-with-housing/rental-housing/
Step 2 — Use the Viewing to Make Expectations Clear
A viewing isn't only for the landlord to look at the applicant.
The tenant is screening the property and landlord too.
I use the viewing to explain important information such as:
What is included in the rent
Utilities
Parking
Property rules where applicable
Shared areas
How the property is managed
This is particularly important in shared housing.
Someone may be perfectly capable of paying the rent but decide that the house rules or shared-living environment aren't right for them.
That's okay.
It is much better to discover that before signing a lease.
Step 3 — Rental Application
If both sides want to continue after the viewing, the next step is the formal rental application.
Depending on the property and applicant, the application may include information needed to verify:
Identity
Employment/income or other lawful financial information
Rental history
Landlord references
Other information relevant to the tenancy
For students or newcomers, the file may look different because they may have little or no Canadian credit or rental history.
That doesn't automatically make someone a poor applicant.
It simply means you may need to look at the whole application rather than one number.
Step 4 — Verify, Don't Just Collect Documents
Receiving an employment letter or landlord phone number isn't the same as verifying it.
Where appropriate and with the required permissions, I want to confirm that the information provided is consistent.
For a previous landlord, useful questions may include:
How long did the person rent there?
Was rent generally paid as agreed?
Was the property reasonably cared for?
Were there significant tenancy issues?
Employment or other relevant information should also be verified appropriately rather than accepted automatically.
The goal isn't to find someone with a perfect-looking application.
The goal is to understand whether the information makes sense together.
What About Credit Checks?
Credit can be useful in some applications, but I would never treat one credit score as the entire decision.
A student or newcomer may have very little Canadian credit history.
Someone else may have a credit issue from the past but otherwise have a stable current situation.
Most importantly, screening criteria should be applied consistently and lawfully. The Alberta Human Rights Commission specifically cautions against asking for credit information from some racial groups but not others, and against decisions based on protected characteristics.
One especially important Alberta point: source of income is a protected ground. A landlord cannot simply reject someone because their lawful income comes from sources such as AISH, disability benefits or other protected income supports.
What If Someone Wants to Move In Tomorrow?
Needing a home quickly does not automatically mean someone is a bad tenant.
But I would ask why.
Maybe:
Their previous lease is ending.
They just moved to Calgary.
Their job changed.
Their current housing situation changed unexpectedly.
The answer gives context.
What I wouldn't do is skip the normal application and verification process simply because the property is vacant and someone can move in immediately.
Clara's Perspective
The biggest mistake in tenant screening is looking for a magical formula:
Good credit + good income = perfect tenant.
It doesn't work that way.
I look at the application as a whole:
Does the property fit the applicant? → Is the information complete? → Can the important information be verified? → Are the same reasonable criteria being applied consistently?
And even after doing everything carefully:
No landlord or Property Manager can guarantee how a tenancy will turn out.
Screening is about reducing avoidable risk and making a reasonable, documented decision with the information available at the time.
I'd rather spend more time checking before handing over the keys than discover afterward that important information was never verified.
Need Help Finding and Tenant Placement in Calgary?
If you don't want to manage inquiries, viewings, applications, reference checks, tenant placement and lease setup yourself, Clara offers Tenant Placement and Full Property Management services for Calgary landlords.
Clara Nguyen — REALTOR® | Licensed Property Manager
CIR REALTY
claranguyen@cirrealty.ca
778-836-2495
claranguyen-homes.ca
Common Questions
Can a landlord guarantee a “good tenant”?
No. Screening can reduce risk and help identify inconsistencies, but no screening process can predict every future life or financial event.
Should I reject an applicant because they don't have Canadian credit history?
Not automatically. Students and newcomers may have limited Canadian credit history, so other relevant and lawful information may need to be considered.
Sources
Alberta Human Rights Commission —https://www.albertahumanrights.ab.ca/issues-with-housing/rental-housing/
Note: This article reflects Clara's personal experience and perspective from marketing, screening and managing rental properties. Tenant screening must comply with applicable Alberta tenancy, human-rights and privacy requirements. Screening can reduce risk but cannot guarantee future tenant behaviour or tenancy outcomes. Every application is different, and this content is general information rather than legal advice for a specific situation.
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