Finding the right tenant for your Jonesboro rental property isn’t just about filling a vacancy—it’s about long-term success. Choosing the wrong renter can lead to late payments, lease violations, or property damage. That’s why smart landlords treat tenant screening as an essential part of their risk management strategy.
In this guide, we’ll show you how to set up a thorough, legally compliant screening process that helps you avoid problem tenants and reduce vacancy loss. Whether you manage one property or several, a consistent screening process will help you protect your investment and ensure steady rental income in the competitive Jonesboro market.
Key Takeaways
A thorough tenant screening process helps prevent eviction, income loss, and property damage.
Background checks should include credit, criminal history, rental history, and income verification.
Landlords in Jonesboro must comply with federal Fair Housing laws and state regulations.
Professional support from PMI Imagine NEA streamlines the process and improves accuracy.
Tools like a vacancy loss calculator can help estimate the cost of poor tenant selection.
What Is Tenant Screening and Why Does It Matter?
Tenant screening is the process of evaluating a rental applicant’s qualifications and behavior to determine if they’re a reliable fit for your property.
Done right, this process helps you avoid tenants who are likely to pay late, violate lease terms, or cause excessive wear and tear. A standard screening process includes the following components:
Credit check to assess financial reliability
Criminal background report to ensure community safety
Rental history verification to check for prior issues
Employment and income verification to confirm the ability to pay rent
Each element helps reduce the guesswork and provides a data-backed view of who you’re renting to.
Step 1: Gather Detailed Application Information
Start by having applicants complete a standardized rental application. It should include:
Current and previous addresses
Employment and income sources
Landlord and personal references
Signed consent to conduct background and credit checks
Set clear, objective screening criteria and apply them to every applicant. This not only helps you avoid costly errors—it also ensures compliance with Fair Housing regulations.
Step 2: Run a Thorough Criminal Background Check
Checking an applicant’s criminal history is legally permitted in Arkansas, but how you use that information matters. Focus on relevant factors like:
Convictions for violent crimes or property damage
Drug-related offenses
Registration on the sex offender list
Use consistent criteria when evaluating criminal history. For instance, a non-violent offense from over a decade ago may not be grounds for denial, but recent convictions for vandalism or theft could pose a risk.
Step 3: Review Their Credit Report
A credit check reveals how an applicant manages debt and financial responsibilities. Look for:
Credit score of 620 or above
Consistent on-time payments
Low credit card balances
No recent bankruptcies or collections
Applicants with strong credit are more likely to pay rent on time. If you’d like help analyzing credit reports and other applicant data, PMI Imagine NEA’s tenant screening services provide a reliable, compliant solution.
Step 4: Check Rental History and References
Speaking with previous landlords can uncover issues not found on a credit or background report. Ask questions such as:
Was rent paid on time and in full?
Were there any complaints or lease violations?
Did the tenant give proper notice before moving out?
Would you rent to this person again?
Consistent late payments, damage to the unit, or a history of evictions are major red flags. However, glowing references can also affirm that the applicant will be a great tenant.
Step 5: Confirm Employment and Monthly Income
Verifying income ensures your tenant can afford rent. As a general rule, applicants should earn at least three times the monthly rent. To verify:
Request recent pay stubs or tax documents
Call the employer to confirm the length and stability of employment
For self-employed applicants, ask for bank statements or 1099s
This step helps ensure rent will be paid consistently, minimizing the risk of costly missed payments. Want to visualize the cost of missed income? Try PMI Imagine NEA’s vacancy loss calculator to see how even one bad tenant can impact your bottom line.
Step 6: Stay Legal and Fair With Every Applicant
Landlords in Jonesboro must follow federal Fair Housing laws, which prohibit discrimination based on race, color, religion, national origin, sex, familial status, or disability.
That means:
Apply the same screening process to all applicants
Avoid questions or comments that could imply bias
Safeguard applicant information and maintain confidentiality
Mistakes, even unintentional ones, can lead to legal trouble. Partnering with professionals like PMI Imagine NEA can help you stay on the right side of the law while selecting quality tenants.
Common Tenant Screening Mistakes to Avoid
Even experienced landlords can fall into traps that cost time and money. Some of the most frequent mistakes include:
Skipping background checks entirely
Using free or outdated online screening tools
Rejecting tenants for reasons unrelated to their ability to pay rent
Failing to document decisions and screening procedures
These errors can lead to legal disputes, income loss, or bad tenants. Working with a full-service property manager ensures you follow best practices every time.
Why Screening Matters in the Jonesboro Market
Jonesboro is one of Arkansas’s fastest-growing cities, with strong demand for quality rental housing thanks to its medical, agricultural, and educational sectors.
With growth comes more rental applications—and more opportunities to choose the wrong tenant if you don’t screen carefully. Rental scams and unreliable renters are also on the rise nationwide, so landlords in growing cities like Jonesboro must remain vigilant.
Using a consistent, detailed screening approach can reduce tenant turnover, protect property value, and keep your rental income predictable.
Make Tenant Screening Easy With PMI Imagine NEA
At PMI Imagine NEA, we make screening simple and stress-free. Our tenant screening services are thorough, legally compliant, and designed to reduce your vacancy loss and eviction risks.
We also offer professional rent collection solutions that ensure timely payments and relieve you of the hassle of chasing down checks each month.
Don’t leave your rental property’s future to chance. Contact us today to learn how PMI Imagine NEA can help you place the right tenants and protect your Jonesboro investment property.
Frequently Asked Questions
1. What is the most important part of a tenant screening process?
While every step matters, verifying income and rental history are often the most predictive of future tenant behavior.
2. Can I deny a tenant based on a criminal record in Arkansas?
Yes, but you must evaluate each case individually and ensure your policy does not result in discrimination. Focus on recent, relevant offenses.
3. How do I handle self-employed applicants?
Ask for 6–12 months of bank statements, 1099 forms, or a recent tax return to verify income stability and reliability.
4. What credit score should I look for?
Many landlords use 620 as a benchmark, but this can vary depending on your property and rent rate. Look at the full credit report, not just the score.
5. Can a property manager take care of screening for me?
Yes. Property management companies like PMI Imagine NEA offer full-service screening that includes credit checks, criminal reports, reference verification, and more—saving you time and ensuring accuracy.
