Your landlord will usually call employers as part of their tenant screening process. There are some standard questions that most landlords will ask, but the best ones will go deeper with follow-up questions and clarifications.
Why Do Landlords Call Employers?
First of all, landlords do usually call employers. If you’re worried about this, it’s best just to assume that it’s going to happen and move forward.
The three main reasons landlords will call employers are:
- Verify income
- Verify job history
- Learn more about the applicant’s character
You’ll likely fill out your job history and income on the application itself, but most landlords won’t trust this information. They know that some applicants are incentivized to lie. For example, if you really need a place to stay, but your income isn’t likely to net you the lease, you could fudge the numbers a bit. Landlords know this, so they’ll check.
Landlords also want to know what type of person you are, and how you handle your job tells a lot. If you’re responsible, on time, and trustworthy, your landlord can find that out from your employer.
Rather than lying about income (which rarely works), take a moment to explain to a landlord why you should get the lease. Perhaps you have another source of income coming, or you’re starting a new job in a few weeks. If the rest of your application is stellar, you might still get to rent the unit.
Do Employers Have to Give Out Information?
Employers do not have to disclose information about their employees. However, most will provide the basics because that’s usually in their favor.
For example, if a landlord calls and your employer refuses to help, your application will likely be denied.
However, the amount of information given can vary. This especially depends on whether the landlord has your consent. Your employer shouldn’t give out any information without your prior consent other than to confirm your employment there.
If you have given authorization, your employer will likely give out this information:
- How long you’ve worked there
- Your title
- Your pay
- Whether you work full-time or part-time
Then, the landlord may decide to ask more in-depth questions, but the company can decide whether to give it. In many cases, an HR rep will decline to give out much more information because they’re more worried about employee rights and privacy. However, a direct supervisor may be willing to speak more, given that they know the employee and will likely want to help.
10 Questions a Landlord Can Ask Your Employer
Here are common questions that are within a landlord’s right to ask:
- What is [Applicant’s] Annual/Hourly Salary?
- Is [Applicant] a Full-Time or Part-Time Employee?
- How Long Has [Applicant] Worked There?
- What is [Applicant’s] Title?
- Does [Applicant] Have a History of Missed Work?
- Does [Applicant] Have a History of Being Late to Work?
- Would You Recommend [Applicant] to a Landlord?
- Does [Applicant] Have a History of Write-ups or Disciplinary Issues?
- Why Did [Applicant] Leave? (Previous Employer)
- Do You Like Working With [Applicant]?
1. What is [Applicant’s] Annual/Hourly Salary?
First, your landlord wants to know if you can pay rent. If you can’t, having the most pristine application in history won’t make a difference.
Also, some companies have complicated compensation plans because of commissions, bonuses, and stipends. Your HR rep may have a different number on file than what you make. If you suspect this is the case, you can note this on the application. Tell the landlord that you’ll be willing to show as many pay stubs as necessary to prove that you make more than what HR claims.
Furthermore, many people have multiple sources of income. If you have a freelance gig on the side, be sure to note that. Otherwise, the landlord will assume your income number doesn’t match what your employer said, and you’ll be passed over.
2. Is [Applicant] a Full-Time or Part-Time Employee?
Full-time jobs are often a bit safer than part-time ones. This could give you the edge over an equally qualified candidate who has a part-time job.
3. How Long Has [Applicant] Worked There?
Your job history can say a lot about your future earning potential. A thorough landlord will look for:
- No gaps – A landlord might think you couldn’t find a new job, which harms your career prospects (and therefore your future potential to pay rent).
- Steady jobs – Hopping between jobs can be a sign that you can’t hold onto one.
- Length of current employment – Someone who started in the past two months is more likely to quit or be let go than someone who’s been at a job for five years.
- Increasing responsibility – If you can show that you switched jobs (in the same career) because you got a promotion, that looks good for you.
If you have a legitimate reason for a gap in employment or switching careers, note that to the employer. If you took time off to take care of your sick mother, that reflects differently than if you were fired for cause.
4. What is [Applicant’s] Title?
Your landlord wants to verify that you weren’t making yourself out to be more important than you are. A good title can also reflect well on you. A department manager has better earning potential than someone who hasn’t been given that level of responsibility.
5. Does [Applicant] Have a History of Missed Work?
We’re now getting to the questions that your employer may not want to answer—but be mentally prepared to address issues a landlord uncovers.
Obviously, your job is a massively important responsibility. If you can’t make the effort to always be at work, why would a landlord trust you with their property?
6. Does [Applicant] Have a History of Being Late to Work?
Frequently being late shows a lack of care and attention to detail. A landlord may not trust you to handle utilities, maintenance, and paying rent on time if you can’t regularly be on time for work.
7. Would You Recommend [Applicant] to a Landlord?
Landlords won’t always get an answer to this question, but it’s such a good one that many will ask it. Consider who you choose to be your employer reference (usually HR or your supervisor) so they can answer this well.
8. Does [Applicant] Have a History of Write-ups or Disciplinary Issues?
Don’t give your employer any reason to speak poorly of you. This can affect future jobs, mortgages, and, in this case, getting the rental lease.
9. Why Did [Applicant] Leave? (Previous Employer)
Some (very thorough) landlords will call all of the employers you’ve had over the past five years. If they do, one of the first questions they will ask is why you left. Hopefully, you weren’t fired, or you can refer your landlord to someone willing to explain any mitigating circumstances to you being let go.
10. Do You Like Working With [Applicant]?
Like every businessperson, landlords want to work with people they like. If you get along with your coworkers and are generally well-liked, it shows that you’re likely responsible, hard-working, and good with communication.
What Can’t a Landlord Ask?
The biggest concerns for a landlord are the protected classes laid out in the Fair Housing Act. Landlords cannot deny housing, raise rent, or require a higher security deposit for any of these reasons:
- Race
- Color
- Religion
- National Origin
- Disability
- Sex (including gender identity and sexual orientation)
- Familial Status
If you are denied the lease and you find out that your landlord discussed any of these with your employer, you could sue for discrimination.
However, you should be careful here. It’s possible that a landlord did nothing wrong, and the employer voluntarily brought up something about you. You may have been rejected based on your credit score or income, and not whatever your employer mentinoed. There’s nothing you can do about this, and bringing up a lawsuit would cost you time and money.
