Rental References: 6 Questions Worth Asking a Previous Landlord
Overview
Rental references should help confirm facts about an applicant’s rental history, not provide a personal verdict about their character.
Start by confirming the tenancy dates, address, and the reference’s relationship to the property.
Ask specifically about rent payment history, property condition, documented tenancy concerns, and how the tenancy ended.
If the application and reference do not match, investigate the discrepancy and give the applicant an opportunity to clarify it.
Keep questions relevant to the tenancy. Avoid gossip, speculation, personal character judgments, and protected personal information.
Verify that the person providing the reference is genuinely connected to the previous property.
Treat one previous landlord reference as one part of the overall application, not as the sole basis for a decision.
A rental application can look straightforward on paper. The applicant has completed the form, supplied employment information, provided proof of income and identification, and listed a previous landlord.
The reference call is where a landlord has an opportunity to confirm some of that information.
The problem is that many rental reference checks begin with a question such as, “Were they a good tenant?”
That question sounds useful, but the answer may tell you more about the previous landlord’s personal opinion than the tenancy itself. One landlord’s definition of a “good tenant” may be very different from another’s.
More useful rental reference questions focus on facts that can be connected to the tenancy, such as payment history, property care, documented concerns, and the circumstances surrounding the move out.
Alberta privacy guidance recognizes landlord references as information that may reasonably form part of a rental application when handled appropriately. Information exchanged should remain related to suitability as a tenant, such as payment history, property damage, and tenancy complaints, rather than unrelated personal characteristics.
The objective is simple: confirm facts, not a personal verdict.
6 Rental Reference Questions Worth Asking
A structured landlord reference check is generally more useful than an open conversation about whether somebody was easy or difficult to deal with. These six questions give Alberta landlords a practical starting point.
1. Can You Confirm the Tenancy Dates and Rental Address?
Before discussing payments or property condition, establish that the person you are speaking with is actually connected to the rental history listed on the application.
Confirm the previous rental address, the tenant’s name, approximate move in and move out dates, the reference’s relationship to the property, and whether those details correspond with the application.
This simple step can uncover mistakes before they influence a screening decision.
Imagine an application says the applicant moved into a property in May 2024, while the previous landlord remembers the tenancy beginning in June. That difference deserves clarification, but it does not automatically prove that the applicant provided false information.
The lease may have started in June while the applicant began moving belongings in during May. One person may also be remembering the dates incorrectly.
Record the discrepancy, then verify it rather than jumping immediately to a conclusion. This approach is useful throughout tenant screening in Alberta. A discrepancy is a reason to ask another question, not necessarily a reason to reject an application.
2. Was the Rent Generally Paid as Agreed?
Payment history is more useful when the question is specific.
Instead of asking, “Were they financially responsible?”, ask, “Was the rent generally paid according to the tenancy agreement?”
Useful follow up questions include:
Were payments normally made on time?
Were there documented late payments?
How frequently did that occur?
Was there an outstanding balance when the tenancy ended?
Were any payment arrangements made?
Frequency and context matter.
“One payment was late during a two year tenancy” provides very different information from “Rent was repeatedly unpaid for extended periods.”
If the previous landlord reports something that materially differs from the application, document what was said and ask the applicant for clarification.
A rental reference is more useful when it identifies something that can be investigated rather than simply attaching a label to the applicant.
3. Was the Property Reasonably Cared For?
Property condition is another area where factual wording makes a major difference.
“They didn’t take care of the house” is an opinion.
“There was a broken interior door documented at the move out inspection” is information that can potentially be verified.
Useful follow up questions may include:
Was there documented tenant caused damage?
Were maintenance concerns reported appropriately?
Was there a move out inspection?
Were particular concerns recorded in writing?
Was the issue damage, maintenance, or normal deterioration?
That final distinction matters. Normal wear and tear should not simply be treated as tenant damage.
Move in and move out inspection documentation can provide a much clearer reference point than memory alone. This is one reason professional inspection records are useful throughout a tenancy, not only when the tenant leaves.
4. Were Any Tenancy Concerns Communicated and Addressed?
A question such as “Was the tenant difficult?” creates another problem. Difficult is subjective.
Ask what actually happened instead.
The previous landlord might mention noise complaints, guest related concerns, maintenance communication problems, access issues, lease related concerns, or another documented tenancy matter.
If a concern is raised, ask:
What specifically happened?
When did it happen?
Was it documented?
How was the concern communicated?
Did the tenant respond?
What action was taken?
Was the matter resolved?
Was it an isolated incident or a repeated issue?
The outcome can sometimes be as informative as the complaint itself.
For example, a tenant who misunderstood a maintenance responsibility, communicated with the landlord, and corrected the issue promptly presents a different situation from a recurring concern that continued after multiple documented communications.
This is where good tenant reference check notes become important. Record the event, frequency, response, and outcome, rather than writing a vague label such as “problem tenant.”
Read also: How to Get Your Property Rent Ready: A Complete Checklist for Alberta Landlords
5. Was Proper Notice Given at the End of the Tenancy?
The end of a tenancy can provide useful factual information, but landlords should be careful about applying one notice rule to every situation.
Ask about when notice was provided, the recorded move out date, the type of tenancy where relevant, return of keys, move out inspection, property handover, and any unresolved matters at the end of the tenancy.
Alberta distinguishes between different tenancy types and circumstances. Notice requirements can vary depending on factors such as the type of tenancy and who is ending it. For legal requirements, landlords should refer to current Government of Alberta guidance and the Residential Tenancies Act rather than relying on a previous landlord’s interpretation.
This makes a question such as “Did they give proper notice?” more useful when followed by “What type of tenancy was it, and when was the notice provided?”
6. Is There a Documented Tenancy Issue We Should Verify?
An open ended question can still be useful at the end of the call, provided it is framed carefully.
Try asking, “Is there any documented tenancy related issue that we should verify?”
If something is raised, ask what happened, when it happened, whether it was formally documented, whether supporting information is available, what action was taken, what the outcome was, and whether there is something the applicant should be asked to clarify.
This gives the previous landlord an opportunity to mention something that the structured questions may not have covered without inviting unrelated gossip.
A useful reference call asks about the tenancy. It does not become an investigation into the applicant’s personal life.
Verify the Reference Before Relying on It
Even well designed landlord reference questions have limited value if you do not know who is answering them.
Confirm:
The reference’s full name
Their role or company
Their relationship to the rental property
The rental address
Their contact information
Whether basic details match the application
Where practical, independently confirm the contact details of a property management company or business before relying heavily on the reference.
Reference verification should be targeted. Confirm the reference, rather than turning the process into an unrelated search of the applicant’s personal life.
What Should You Do When the Reference and Application Do Not Match?
A mismatch deserves attention, but not every mismatch means deception.
You might encounter different tenancy dates, a different rent amount, a late payment that was not mentioned elsewhere, different explanations for the move out, or conflicting descriptions of property condition.
Use a simple three step process:
Record the discrepancy.
Ask the applicant to clarify it.
Compare the explanation with other relevant information and documentation.
Consider the seriousness of the discrepancy, how often similar inconsistencies appear, how relevant the issue is to the tenancy, and how well the information can be substantiated.
A one month difference in recalled tenancy dates should not necessarily be treated the same as several independently verified contradictions about rental history.
What Not to Ask During a Rental Reference Check
Useful tenant screening questions have a clear connection to the tenancy.
Avoid turning a reference call into a conversation about personal characteristics, unrelated opinions, character judgments, gossip, rumours, speculation, protected personal information, or matters that could introduce discrimination into the screening process.
One commonly used question deserves a closer look: “Would you rent to this person again?”
It may produce an answer, but it does not necessarily produce useful evidence.
A previous landlord could say no because of a personality disagreement, their own management style, plans to sell the property, or circumstances unrelated to how the tenant actually performed under the tenancy.
If the answer is negative, ask for the tenancy related facts behind it.
One Reference Is Only One Piece of the Application
One reference is one piece of the file.
A responsible rental screening process may consider several relevant sources of information, depending on the landlord’s established criteria:
Rental application
Identity information
Appropriate income or employment verification
Rental history
Previous landlord references
Supporting documentation
Applicant explanations
Other consistently applied screening criteria
Context matters.
One late payment, one disagreement, or one unusual incident does not automatically describe an applicant’s complete rental history. At the same time, repeated inconsistencies supported by reliable documentation may warrant closer review.
The strongest decisions tend to come from comparing relevant information, documenting what was verified, and applying the same process consistently.
Keep the Tenant Screening Process Consistent
A standard process helps remove some of the guesswork from screening tenants in Alberta.
Consider using the same core framework for each application:
Ask the same basic reference questions.
Record factual answers.
Separate observations from opinions.
Verify material inconsistencies.
Apply established screening criteria consistently.
Give applicants an opportunity to clarify relevant discrepancies.
Maintain appropriate records.
Follow applicable Alberta privacy and human rights requirements.
A repeatable process makes screening easier to document and helps keep the decision focused on relevant rental criteria.
How Professional Property Management Helps With Tenant Screening
A rental reference call is only one part of placing and managing a tenant.
Applications need to be reviewed, information verified, showings coordinated, leases prepared, condition reports completed, rent collected, maintenance handled, inspections documented, and communication managed throughout the tenancy.
A structured reference check becomes more useful when it is part of a consistent leasing process. Power Properties helps rental owners manage applications, screening, documentation, leasing, inspections, ongoing tenant communication, maintenance coordination, rent collection, and broader property management so individual decisions are not handled in isolation.
That broader process matters because information collected during screening does not exist in isolation.
Detailed move in documentation creates a baseline for assessing property condition later. Consistent tenant communication creates clearer records when concerns arise. Routine inspections can identify maintenance or property issues before they become larger problems.
For owners managing everything themselves, the challenge is often not knowing what a reference question should be. It is maintaining the same level of documentation and follow through across the entire tenancy.
Ready to Get Your Rental Property on the Market?
Book a rental evaluation with Power Properties®. Our team can help determine an appropriate rental price, prepare your property for marketing, find and screen qualified tenants, coordinate the move-in process, and manage the property after the keys are handed over.
A well-prepared property creates a strong start. A professional management process helps carry that standard through the entire tenancy.
Frequently Asked Questions
-
Useful questions confirm tenancy dates and address, payment history, property condition, documented tenancy concerns, how problems were resolved, and how the tenancy ended. Questions should focus on relevant rental facts instead of broad character judgments.
-
A rental reference may form part of the screening process, but landlords should follow applicable privacy requirements and obtain appropriate consent before collecting personal information from references.
-
Ask for specific facts. Find out what happened, when it occurred, whether it was documented, how often it happened, and how it was resolved. If the information materially affects the application, give the applicant an opportunity to clarify the discrepancy.
-
You can obtain more useful information by asking about specific tenancy history. A yes or no answer may reflect personal opinions or circumstances unrelated to the applicant’s actual rental performance.
-
Confirm the reference’s name, role, relationship to the property, property address, and contact details. Where appropriate, verify a property management company or business through its official contact information rather than relying solely on details supplied on the application.
-
Lack of a previous landlord reference does not by itself explain why the reference is unavailable. Someone may be renting for the first time, have previously lived with family, owned a home, or have another legitimate circumstance. Use the other relevant information available under your established screening process.
-
One reference may raise a legitimate concern, but its relevance, reliability, supporting documentation, context, and the applicant’s explanation all matter. Screening criteria should also be applied consistently and in accordance with applicable human rights requirements.
-
Keeping factual notes can help maintain a consistent screening process. Record what the reference actually said, identify unresolved discrepancies, and avoid converting opinions or assumptions into statements of fact.
-
Yes. The level of assistance varies by company. Power Properties can help owners prepare properties for the rental market and coordinate work such as cleaning, painting, and other required preparation. The team can then manage the next stages, including rental evaluation, marketing, professional photography, tenant screening, lease preparation, move-in documentation, maintenance coordination, inspections, and ongoing management.
-
Do one complete walkthrough after all contractors and cleaners have finished. Test the property's essential systems, inspect every room, confirm repairs are complete, check that the home is clean and smells neutral, verify the rental information and price, and make sure you would be comfortable showing the property to a qualified prospective tenant that day.
Confirm Facts, Not a Personal Verdict
The best rental reference questions do not ask a previous landlord to make the decision for you. They help verify the information already in front of you.
Confirm where and when the applicant rented. Understand the payment history. Ask about documented property condition and tenancy concerns. Check how the tenancy ended. Verify the reference itself, then compare what you learn with the rest of the application.
Most importantly, separate facts that can be substantiated from opinions that cannot.
Screening an applicant properly also involves much more than one phone call. Marketing, enquiries, applications, verification, lease documentation, inspections, rent collection, maintenance, renewals, tenant communication, and move outs all require consistent processes.
Power Properties® helps Alberta rental property owners manage these responsibilities professionally, from finding and screening tenants through the ongoing management of the property.
If managing your rental property is taking more time than expected, or you want a more structured approach to leasing and tenant management, contact Power Properties® to learn how our property management team can help.
Ready to maximize your rental income?
Power Properties® is an Alberta-based property management company operating in Calgary, Edmonton, Lethbridge and Medicine Hat. Dedicated to helping landlords get the most from their investment properties. Learn more at powerproperties.net.
About Power Properties Ltd.
Founded in 1980, Power Properties has been providing hassle-free property management services to property owners, property investors and non-residents with homes in Calgary, Edmonton, Lethbridge and Medicine Hat for over 45 years. Our full-service property management includes everything from move in to move out, so you don’t have to worry about the day-to-day operations of your rental property. With a team of licensed professionals, years of experience, and award-winning service, you can rest assured that your property is in good hands.
