If you are investing in rental property, it makes sense to spend some time preparing for the evaluation of your prospective tenants. Careful interviewing and examination of application forms can save you a lot of headaches later on in the tenancy.
On top of those losing their homes and now needing to rent, the first-time buyers market is also taking a hit. The real estate crash has prompted lending institutions to tighten their lending standards, making it very difficult for the majority of first-time buyers to get into the game. This will result in even more demand for rental units, as turnover will be minimal.
There are a variety of things that you can do to protect yourself against this type of thing happening to you when you are looking for a new home to rent. Landlords are naturally cautious about new tenants; as a tenant, you should be cautious about a new landlord. Like renters, landlords are just people too and can have the same types of failings that renters do.