Since the recession began in December 2007, national rental vacancy rates have increased 11.46 percent from 9.6 percent to 10.7 percent (at the end of 2009).

With rental vacancy rates at their highest levels since at least 1996, it is only natural that some property owners may “loosen” their standards during the rental screening process to increase occupancy levels. However, before taking such actions, property managers need to best understand how to assess their prospective residents in today’s new economic environment. To ensure a renter is both reliable and profitable, a property manager must look at several attributes in their profile.