A solution to ensure your tenants can pay rent on time
The biggest financial concern landlords face is the nonpayment of rent, so it’s important to make sure that prospective tenants can afford your monthly rent.
Determining the rent-to-income ratio should be a part of a landlord’s screening process, and setting the ratio – whether it’s 20% or 30% – should be included in every landlord’s screening criteria. With our intuitive calculators, it’s easy.
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Rent-to-Income Ratio Calculators
Benefits of Using a Rent-to-Income Calculator
The number one benefit of checking a tenant’s income is to ensure you select a tenant who can appropriately afford your rental.
For example, renting to a tenant whose rent-to-income ratio is 50%, meaning that 50% of their monthly income will go to rent, is a larger risk for landlords and their investments.
There are many unexpected things tenants might need to pay for, such as emergencies or vehicle repairs, that can greatly reduce monthly income and lead to a missed rent payment.
Tenants don’t want to be living paycheck to paycheck for rent, and landlords want to avoid nonpayment of rent, which can lead to evictions – an expensive process for both parties.
Table of Contents
Using The Calculator
The rent-to-income ratio calculator is simple, and you’ll only need a few things to determine the correct ratio or gross income depending on which calculator you choose to use above.
Calculator Inputs Explained
Renter’s Monthly Gross Income
This is the total gross income a renter makes a month before any deductions or taxes are taken out. Typically, on a rental application, landlords will ask the total gross monthly income of a tenant.
Monthly Rent
This is the amount of rent that will be due monthly for the rental property.
Gross Income-to-Rent Ratio
The gross income-to-rent ratio is the multiplier you are looking for compared to the rent – it is on a scale of five so you can determine the type of ratio you are looking for.
For example, if you want a tenant’s income to be three times the monthly rent, you would select three on the slider to get the correct output.
Calculator Outputs Explained
Rent-to-Income Ratio
This is the percentage representing how much of a tenant’s monthly income will be needed to pay the rent.
Renter’s Target Gross Monthly Income
This is the monthly income you’d expect with the ratio you determined on the slider.
Renter’s Target Gross Annual Income
Similar to the target gross monthly income, this is the amount of annual income you’d expect with the ratio you determined on the slider.
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Example Using the Rent-to-Income Ratio Calculators
Using the first calculator, say a tenant’s monthly gross income is $5,000 and the monthly rent is $2,000. The rent-to-income ratio would be 40% which is higher than the recommended 30% threshold.
Applying the same numbers to the second calculator, with the monthly rent being $2,000, say a landlord wants the tenant’s income to be three times the monthly rent amount (close to 30%).
When you set the gross income-to-rent ratio to three, the outputs show that you’d want a renter’s target gross monthly income to be around $6,000 with a target gross annual income of $72,000.
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Rent-to-Income Ratio FAQ
What is a good rent-to-income ratio?
The rent-to-income ratio is the percentage of income a tenant will need for the monthly rent. A good rent-to-income ratio is around 30% of gross income, and most landlords will require that as a maximum percentage – the higher the percentage, the more likely it is that a tenant could not afford the rent long term.
How do you calculate the rent-to-income ratio?
To calculate a rent-to-income ratio, you will need the monthly gross income of the tenant and the rent they will be paying, as well as a percentage threshold.
A general guideline is around 30% of gross income. You will then divide the rent by the gross income to get the percentage.
What should I do if a tenant’s rent-to-income ratio is higher than 30%?
Every landlord will have a different comfort level of risk associated with their rental property investments. Like we mentioned above, if a tenant’s rent-to-income ratio is higher than 30%, then it might be difficult for them to afford the rent long term.
It’s up to the landlord to determine if the tenant would be a good fit for their property after going through the full screening process.
What else should I look at to see if a renter would be a good fit for my rental property?
There are a variety of factors landlords can use to determine if a tenant would be a good fit for the property. A screening report will give you full credit, criminal and eviction history so you can see if there are any red flags.
For our guide on how to read a screening report, read here. In addition to a screening report, landlords should also get to know the renter and collect previous landlord references.
Should I use gross or net income on rental applications?
Use your gross income. The common budgeting rule that says you shouldn’t spend more than 30% of your income on rent is based on your total, un-taxed income.
We’ve given you two ways to calculate your rent-to-income ratio above.
The first calculator will provide a percentage based on gross monthly income and the rent amount. The second calculator will let you customize the ratio and provide target amounts for both the gross monthly income and the gross annual income.
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As a seasoned expert in real estate and property management, my years of hands-on experience equip me with an in-depth understanding of the critical factors that landlords face, particularly in the realm of rent collection and tenant screening. My expertise extends to the nuances of evaluating tenants' financial capabilities and employing effective tools to mitigate the risk of nonpayment.
The provided article addresses a key concern for landlords—the timely payment of rent—and emphasizes the significance of the rent-to-income ratio in the tenant screening process. Let's break down the concepts presented in the article:
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Rent-to-Income Ratio (RIR):
- The rent-to-income ratio is a crucial metric that determines the percentage of a tenant's income allocated to monthly rent payments.
- Landlords should incorporate the rent-to-income ratio into their screening criteria to assess whether prospective tenants can comfortably afford the rent.
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Setting the Ratio:
- Landlords are advised to set a specific ratio, such as 20% or 30%, as part of their screening criteria.
- The article emphasizes the importance of using intuitive calculators to streamline the process of determining the rent-to-income ratio.
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Benefits of Using a Rent-to-Income Calculator:
- The primary benefit is ensuring that landlords select tenants who can afford the rental property.
- By avoiding tenants with high rent-to-income ratios (e.g., 50%), landlords reduce the risk of nonpayment and potential financial strain on tenants.
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Calculator Inputs:
- Renter’s Monthly Gross Income: The total gross income of a tenant before deductions or taxes.
- Monthly Rent: The amount of rent due for the rental property.
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Calculator Outputs:
- Rent-to-Income Ratio: The percentage representing the portion of a tenant's monthly income needed for rent.
- Renter’s Target Gross Monthly Income: The expected monthly income based on the selected ratio.
- Renter’s Target Gross Annual Income: The expected annual income based on the selected ratio.
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FAQs on Rent-to-Income Ratio:
- Good Rent-to-Income Ratio: Around 30% of gross income is considered a good ratio, and many landlords use this as a maximum threshold.
- Calculating the Ratio: Divide the rent by the gross income and express the result as a percentage.
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Advice for Landlords:
- Landlords are encouraged to assess the tenant's overall financial situation, considering factors like emergencies or unexpected expenses.
- A thorough screening process, including credit, criminal, and eviction history checks, is recommended to gauge a tenant's suitability.
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Gross vs. Net Income:
- The article recommends using gross income when calculating the rent-to-income ratio, aligning with the common budgeting rule of not spending more than 30% of total, untaxed income on rent.
In summary, the article provides valuable insights into the importance of the rent-to-income ratio, outlines the calculator inputs and outputs, offers a practical example, and addresses common questions landlords may have. For landlords seeking a comprehensive toolset for property management, the article recommends TurboTenant's free platform for streamlined rental property management.
