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Found a Tenant?
You Found the Tenant. Now Make Sure the Tenancy Starts Properly.
Advertising, answering enquiries and arranging viewings can take weeks. Then the first applicant who seems suitable arrives with payslips, bank statements and a deposit — and suddenly there is pressure to move fast. This is exactly when a landlord should slow down long enough to verify the applicant, assess the risk, put the right lease in place and document the handover properly.
The most expensive tenant can be the one who looked fine at first
A payslip proves that a document exists. It does not automatically prove that the employment information is current.
A bank statement shows money moving through an account. It still needs to be considered alongside income, debt commitments and the rental amount.
A reference telephone number proves that someone answered the phone. It does not automatically prove that the person was the previous landlord.
A good credit score may be reassuring, but it does not tell you everything about current affordability, rental history or whether the supporting documents agree with one another.
This is why A+ Properties separates finding an applicant from deciding whether to accept the applicant.
Before asking “Do I like this applicant?” ask “Is the information reliable?”
Start with the basics.
✓ Does the identity information match the application?
✓ Do the payslip and bank deposits make sense together?
✓ Is employment current and capable of being verified?
✓ Does the applicant's declared rental history line up with available references?
✓ Are there unexplained differences between the documents?
✓ Have all adult occupants who need to be identified been disclosed?
Turn the application into a decision-support report
A+ Properties' standalone Tenant Screening & Risk Assessment service is designed for landlords who have already found the applicant themselves but want an independent professional assessment before concluding the tenancy.
The final decision remains with the landlord. Screening helps reduce guesswork, but it cannot guarantee future payment behaviour, employment stability, affordability or compliance with the lease.
A good applicant still needs a good lease
Once the landlord decides to proceed, the next risk is weak documentation.
A generic internet template may not properly reflect the actual tenancy, rental amount, deposit, escalation, utilities, occupants, rules, lease period, payment date or property-specific arrangements.
A+ Properties' Screening, Lease Agreement & Compliance Package combines the screening process with a professionally prepared residential lease and supporting onboarding documentation.
The objective is simple: start the tenancy with the expectations written down before anyone receives the keys.
The keys are the final step, not the first
Landlords can become so relieved to fill a vacancy that occupation happens before the paperwork and money are properly finalised.
Before handover, confirm that the required lease documentation has been signed, the agreed funds have been received and cleared, the deposit arrangements are documented, the occupation date is clear and the condition of the property is properly recorded.
A smooth handover begins with clarity, not urgency.
You found the applicant. How much help do you want?
Additional adult applicant: R400
✓ Identity
✓ Credit
✓ Affordability
✓ Employment
✓ Rental history
✓ References
✓ Risk assessment
✓ Professional recommendation
Start Screening✓ Tenant screening
✓ Risk assessment
✓ Professional recommendation
✓ Residential lease
✓ FICA documentation
✓ Practitioner disclosure documents
✓ Tenant onboarding documents
✓ Lease-signing assistance
Request the Complete PackageIf screening the applicant has made you realise that you do not want to manage the monthly tenancy yourself, A+ Properties can assist with ongoing property management.
✓ Rental administration
✓ Tenant communication
✓ Arrears follow-up
✓ Maintenance coordination
✓ Lease administration
✓ Landlord support
Explore Property ManagementGet the documents together before screening starts
☐ ID or passport copy for all adult occupants
☐ Proof of residential address
☐ Latest payslip or appropriate proof of income
☐ Three months' bank statements for ordinarily employed applicants
☐ Six months' bank statements where self-employed or commission earning
☐ Work permit where applicable
☐ Any additional information reasonably required to verify the application
Target: 1–2 business days once everything required has been received
Screening can begin properly once A+ Properties has:
✓ The completed application form
✓ Required supporting documents
✓ Proof of payment of the applicable screening fee
Additional verification requirements or missing information may increase the turnaround time.
What should the landlord be trying to decide?
Four things that should make a landlord stop before occupation
1. The application is incomplete but the applicant wants immediate occupation.
2. Required funds have not cleared.
3. The lease or essential onboarding documentation is still unsigned.
4. Material screening questions remain unresolved.
Let A+ Properties handle the search as well
If you are still advertising, dealing with poor-quality enquiries or struggling to arrange viewings, you may need tenant placement rather than screening alone.
A+ Properties can assist with property marketing, enquiries, viewings, screening, lease preparation and tenant placement.
Help Me Find a TenantFrequently asked questions
Do not hand over the keys until the important questions have answers.
Let A+ Properties help you verify the applicant, assess the risk and start the tenancy with proper documentation.
A+ Properties: 011 383 3316
Landlord Decision Centre
Tenant screening and risk assessment reduce uncertainty but cannot guarantee future payment behaviour, employment stability, affordability, property care or compliance with a lease. Recommendations are based on the information reasonably available at the time. The final decision to approve or decline an applicant remains with the landlord. Service pricing and inclusions should be confirmed at the time of application.
A+ Properties: 011 383 3316 • applications@apluspro.co.za