Showings & Pre-Screening看房与初步筛选
Learning objectives
By the end of this lesson you'll be able to:
- Pre-screen inquiries so you only show the unit to genuinely qualified applicants
- Run efficient, safe batch showings that respect a sitting tenant's rights
- Ask the right questions — and avoid the ones that violate the Human Rights Code or PIPA
- Read the red flags that show up at showings before they become tenancy problems
- Move your shortlist smoothly into the full screening process (Module 6)
Why pre-screening comes before showings
Showing a unit takes real time: travelling to the property, preparing it, waiting for no-shows, walking each group through, answering the same questions. Without pre-screening, half of that time is spent on people who could never rent your unit anyway — wrong move-in date, too many occupants for the space, a budget that doesn't fit, or a pet your strata doesn't allow.
Pre-screening flips the order. A short set of questions — answered by message or form before anyone is invited to view — filters your inquiry list down to applicants who match the unit's basic facts. You show the unit fewer times, to better candidates, and your best applicants get faster service because you're not buried in dead-end conversations.
Pre-screening is also your first privacy checkpoint. Under BC's Personal Information Protection Act (PIPA) and the OIPC's 2019 guidance for landlords, you should collect the minimum information necessary at each stage. At the inquiry and pre-screening stage, that means basics only: name, contact info, move-in date, occupants, employment status, pets, and reason for moving. Detailed documents — references, consent for a credit check, photo ID — come later, and only for applicants who advance.
Key point
Staged collection protects you twice. It keeps you compliant with PIPA's "necessary and reasonable" standard, and it means you're not storing stacks of sensitive personal information from people you'll never rent to — information you'd be responsible for safeguarding and disposing of properly.
The five pre-screening questions that matter
Keep it to five to seven questions. More than that, and genuine applicants drop off; fewer, and you can't filter. These five do most of the work:
- Desired move-in date. If they need June 1 and your unit is empty now, every week of mismatch is your vacancy cost.
- Number of occupants. Compare against the unit size and any strata occupancy bylaws. Ask "how many people will live in the home" — not who they are to each other.
- Employment status and approximate household income. You may ask about income amount and whether the rent fits their budget. You may not reject based on income source — assistance, disability benefits, pension, and student loans are protected under the Human Rights Code.
- Reason for moving. An open question that often surfaces useful context — end of lease, relocation for work, wanting more space. Evasive or hostile answers are informative too.
- Pets. Type, size, and number, checked against your policy and strata bylaws. Remember: certified guide and service dogs are not pets and must be accommodated.
Questions to avoid
Do not ask about: children or family composition, marital status, age, religion, ethnicity or place of origin, immigration status, gender, sexual orientation, disability, or the source of someone's income. Each touches a protected ground under BC Human Rights Code s. 10. Module 4 covers the real Tribunal cases — awards have ranged from $1,100 to $10,000 for exactly these questions.
Tool available
A copy-and-paste Pre-Screening Question Set and a Showing Day Checklist are in the Tools tab above. Free for registered members.
Booking and running batch showings
Once pre-screening produces a shortlist, book showings in blocks rather than one-by-one. A 60–90 minute window with 4–6 pre-screened groups is the sweet spot: efficient for you, and the visible presence of other interested renters creates honest urgency without pressure tactics.
Before the showing
- Confirm the day before. A short confirmation message cuts no-shows dramatically. Ask them to reply to confirm.
- Prepare the unit. Clean, bright, aired out. Turn on every light before the first group arrives. First impressions form in the first thirty seconds.
- Bring your materials. A one-page fact sheet (rent, deposit, utilities, parking, pet policy, move-in date), application instructions, and a way to take notes on each group.
If a tenant still lives in the unit
Their rights come first. Under RTA s. 29, you may only enter the unit with the tenant's agreement at the time, or with written notice of at least 24 hours (and not more than 30 days) stating the date, a time window between 8 a.m. and 9 p.m., and the purpose. You cannot hold an open house parade through a sitting tenant's home whenever you like — schedule reasonable, properly noticed showing windows and honour them exactly. A cooperative departing tenant is also your best showing asset; treat them with courtesy.
During the showing
- Stay safe. Tell someone where you are and when you expect to finish. For a vacant unit, keep the door unlocked and stay near exits. Meeting strangers alone in an empty property deserves the same basic caution anywhere else in life does.
- Show, don't sell. Walk the full unit, point out what's included, answer questions directly — including about the unit's flaws. Honesty now prevents disputes later.
- Listen more than you talk. Applicants reveal a lot at showings: how they treat the space, whether their questions match what they told you in pre-screening, how they interact with the people they came with.
- Keep your questions consistent. Ask every group the same follow-up questions. Consistency is your best protection against a claim of uneven treatment.
Red flags at the showing stage
Most tenancy problems announce themselves early. None of these alone is disqualifying, but each is worth noting in your file — and two or three together deserve real weight:
- Pressure to skip steps. "I'll pay six months cash today if we skip the application." Legitimate applicants don't need you to skip screening; scammers and problem tenants do. (Module 1 covers why large upfront cash is itself a fraud pattern.)
- Story changes. Pre-screening said two occupants; at the showing it's four. The stated move-in date shifts. The pet that "doesn't exist" is in the car.
- Refusal to follow the process. Won't complete the application, won't consent to a credit check, insists references are "private." Screening consent is a normal part of renting in BC.
- Hostility toward the previous landlord. One bad landlord happens. A story where every previous landlord was terrible tells you how your own tenancy is likely to be described one day.
- Urgency without explanation. Needing to move in "tomorrow" with no coherent reason often signals an eviction in progress or a departure ahead of a problem.
Caution
A red flag is a reason to verify harder in Module 6's screening process — not a licence to make assumptions about a person. Keep your notes factual ("stated occupancy changed from 2 to 4") rather than interpretive. Factual notes protect you; speculative ones can be used against you.
After the showing: same-day follow-up
Contact your top two or three groups the same day. Thank them, confirm next steps, and send the application with the consent form for screening. Tell the others promptly and neutrally that you're proceeding with other applicants — no explanation of "why" is required, and volunteering reasons only creates risk. A simple "Thank you for viewing the unit; we've decided to move forward with another applicant" is complete.
Do not accept money at the showing stage. No "holding fees," no partial deposits to "take it off the market" — application fees and processing charges are prohibited under RTA s. 15, and a deposit properly changes hands only when a tenancy agreement is being formed (Module 8 covers deposits in full).
Key takeaways
- Pre-screen before you show. Five questions filter your list down to genuine candidates and save hours of wasted showings.
- Collect the minimum at each stage. Basics at pre-screening; documents and consents only for applicants who advance (PIPA / OIPC 2019 guidance).
- Batch showings win: 4–6 pre-screened groups in a 60–90 minute window, confirmed the day before.
- A sitting tenant's rights come first: proper 24-hour written notice, 8 a.m.–9 p.m., purpose stated (RTA s. 29).
- Note red flags factually, verify them in screening — and never take money at the showing stage.
学习目标
学完本单元后，您将能够：
- 先筛后看——只带真正符合条件的申请人看房
- 高效、安全地组织集中看房，并尊重在住租客的合法权利
- 问对问题——避开违反《人权法》和PIPA隐私法的雷区
- 在看房阶段就识别日后可能变成大麻烦的危险信号
- 把入围名单顺畅推进到第6单元的完整背景审查
为什么要"先筛选、后看房"
带看房很花时间：跑一趟房子、打扫准备、等放鸽子的人、逐组讲解、回答同样的问题。不做预筛，一半时间都耗在根本租不成的人身上——入住日期对不上、人数超出户型、预算不够，或者养着物业不允许的宠物。
预筛把顺序倒过来：在邀请任何人看房之前，先用几个问题（通过消息或表格回答）把咨询名单过滤成与房源基本条件匹配的申请人。您带看的次数更少、对象更优质，最好的申请人也能得到更快的响应。很多华人房东习惯"谁问就约谁看"，人来人往热热闹闹，最后一个合适的都没有——预筛就是治这个的。
预筛也是您的第一道隐私关卡。根据BC省《个人信息保护法》（PIPA）和隐私专员公署2019年对房东的指引，每个阶段只应收集必要的最少信息。在咨询和预筛阶段，就是基本信息：姓名、联系方式、入住日期、人数、就业状况、宠物、搬家原因。详细材料——推荐人、信用查询同意书、证件照片——留到后面，而且只向进入下一轮的申请人收取。
要点
分阶段收集信息是双重保护：既符合PIPA"必要且合理"的标准，也避免您手里囤着一堆永远不会租给您房子的人的敏感信息——那些信息您有妥善保管和销毁的法律责任。
最关键的五个预筛问题
控制在五到七个问题。问太多，真心找房的人嫌麻烦不填；问太少，筛不出来。下面五个问题能解决大部分问题：
- 期望入住日期。对方要6月1日入住而您的房子现在就空着，中间每一周的错位都是您的空置成本。
- 入住人数。对照户型大小和物业的入住人数附例。问"几个人住"——不问他们之间是什么关系。
- 就业状况和大致家庭收入。可以问收入金额、租金是否在预算内；不可以因为收入来源拒绝人——收入援助、残障补助、退休金、学生贷款都受《人权法》保护。
- 搬家原因。开放式问题，往往能带出有用的背景——租约到期、工作调动、想要更大空间。含糊其辞或情绪激动的回答本身也是信息。
- 宠物。种类、体型、数量，对照您的政策和物业附例。记住：有认证的导盲犬和服务犬不算宠物，必须接纳。
绝对不能问的问题
不要问：有没有孩子/家庭构成、婚姻状况、年龄、宗教、族裔或原籍、移民身份、性别、性取向、残障情况、收入来源。每一项都触碰BC《人权法》第10条的保护事由。华人之间聊天张口就来的"结婚了吗？""哪里人？""孩子多大？"在这里全是高危问题——第4单元里的真实判例，赔偿从$1,100到$10,000不等。
实用工具
点击上方"实用工具"标签，有可直接复制的预筛问题模板和看房日检查清单。注册会员免费使用。
如何预约和组织集中看房
预筛出入围名单后，把看房安排成时间段，不要一对一零散约。60–90分钟窗口内安排4–6组预筛过的申请人是最优配置：您省时间，其他看房者的存在也会形成真实、自然的紧迫感——不需要任何施压话术。
看房前
- 提前一天确认。一条简短的确认消息能大幅减少放鸽子。请对方回复确认。
- 准备房子。打扫干净、通风、明亮。第一组到之前把所有灯打开。第一印象在头三十秒就定了。
- 带好材料。一页房源信息表（租金、押金、水电、车位、宠物政策、入住日期）、申请流程说明，以及给每组做记录的本子。
如果房子里还住着租客
在住租客的权利优先。根据RTA第29条，进入单元必须当场获得租客同意，或提前至少24小时（不超过30天）书面通知，写明日期、上午8点至晚上9点之间的时间段和进入目的。不能想什么时候带人看就什么时候看，更不能把在住租客的家当成随时开放的样板房——合规通知、约定窗口、严格守时。愿意配合的即将搬走的租客是您带看的最好帮手，请以礼相待。"房子是我的想进就进"这个观念，在BC省是要吃官司的。
看房时
- 注意自身安全。告诉家人朋友您在哪里、预计几点结束。空置房带看时别锁门、站在靠近出口的位置。在空房子里单独见陌生人，值得和生活中任何场合一样的基本警觉。
- 展示，不推销。走完整套房子，讲清包含什么，问什么答什么——包括房子的缺点。现在的诚实，省掉日后的纠纷。
- 多听少说。看房时申请人会暴露很多：怎么对待房子、现场提问和预筛回答对不对得上、和同来的人如何相处。
- 问题保持一致。对每组问同样的跟进问题。一致性是您对抗"区别对待"指控的最好保护。
看房阶段的危险信号
大多数租赁问题早就打过招呼。以下信号单独出现都不足以否决一个人，但每一条都值得记进档案——两三条叠加就要认真掂量了：
- 催您跳过流程。"今天现金付半年，申请就免了吧。"正经申请人不需要您跳过筛查；骗子和问题租客才需要。（第1单元讲过：大额现金预付本身就是诈骗的常见套路。华人房东尤其容易被"现金诚意"打动——恰恰是最该警惕的时候。）
- 说法变来变去。预筛说住两人，看房来了四个；入住日期一改再改；"没有宠物"的狗在车里等着。
- 拒绝走流程。不肯填申请表、不同意信用查询、坚称推荐人"是隐私"。在BC省，筛查同意是租房的正常环节。
- 对前房东充满敌意。遇到一个差劲的房东是运气；"以前的房东个个都坏"的故事，预告了将来您会被怎样描述。
- 说不出原因的火急火燎。"明天就要搬进来"却讲不出合理缘由，往往意味着正在被驱逐，或是在问题爆发前跑路。
特别注意
危险信号是"在第6单元的筛查里更严格核实"的理由，不是给人下结论的执照。记录只写事实（"入住人数陈述从2人变为4人"），不写主观推断。事实性记录保护您；臆测性记录可能反过来被用来对付您。
看房之后：当天跟进
当天联系前两三组候选人：致谢、确认下一步、发出申请表和筛查同意书。其余的人也要尽快、中性地告知不再推进——不需要解释"为什么"，主动解释反而制造风险。一句"感谢看房，我们决定推进其他申请人"就是完整的答复。
看房阶段不收任何钱。不收"占位费"，不收"先付一部分把房子留住"的部分押金——申请费和手续费在RTA第15条下是被禁止的，押金只在正式建立租约时才合法易手（第8单元详讲押金）。"先给红包定下来"在这里不是人情，是违规。
要点回顾
- 先筛后看。五个问题把名单过滤成真候选人，省下几小时无效带看。
- 每阶段只收必要信息：预筛只收基本信息，材料和同意书只向进入下一轮的人收（PIPA/OIPC 2019指引）。
- 集中看房最优：60–90分钟窗口安排4–6组预筛过的申请人，前一天确认。
- 在住租客权利优先：24小时书面通知、早8点至晚9点、写明目的（RTA第29条）。
- 危险信号只记事实、留到筛查阶段核实——看房阶段一分钱都不收。
Apply what you learned学以致用
Work through this checklist before your first showing:在第一场看房之前，逐项完成这份行动清单：
Frequently asked questions常见问题
Yes — as long as you apply the same requirement to everyone. Pre-screening basics (move-in date, occupants, employment status, pets, reason for moving) are legitimate business questions. What you cannot do is apply the requirement selectively or use it to filter on protected grounds.
No. Large upfront cash to bypass screening is a classic pattern for both fraud and problem tenancies — the money buys their way past the checks that would have revealed the issue. Run your normal process for everyone. Module 1 covers why "funds received" isn't even the same as "funds final."
Yes. Occupancy count is a legitimate question tied to the unit's size and any strata bylaws. What you should not ask is the relationship between occupants, whether there are children, or anything else that reveals family status — a protected ground.
Follow RTA s. 29: get the tenant's agreement at the time, or serve written notice at least 24 hours in advance stating the date, a window between 8 a.m. and 9 p.m., and the purpose. Group your showings into a small number of properly noticed windows rather than repeated individual visits, and leave the home exactly as you found it.
Not at the showing stage. Application and processing fees are prohibited (RTA s. 15), and a security deposit properly changes hands when a tenancy agreement is being formed — capped at half a month's rent. If someone wants to commit, move them into your application and screening process the same day instead.
No. A prompt, neutral message — "Thank you for viewing; we've decided to proceed with another applicant" — is complete. Volunteering reasons creates risk without benefit: an offhand explanation can be read as touching a protected ground even when your actual decision was sound.
Factual ones: who attended, what was asked and answered, any inconsistencies with pre-screening answers, and next steps. Avoid speculation about people's characteristics or circumstances. Keep the notes only as long as needed and dispose of them securely — they're personal information under PIPA.
Take the same precautions you would meeting any stranger: tell someone your location and schedule, keep your phone accessible, stay near exits in a vacant unit, and trust your instincts — you can always cut a showing short. Batch showings also help; you're rarely alone with a single stranger for long.
Note the discrepancy factually and, if they otherwise remain a candidate, verify harder at the screening stage — independent reference checks and documented income verification (Module 6). A single misremembered detail is human; a pattern of shifting answers about occupants, pets, or dates is a genuine warning.
Same day. Send your top candidates the application and screening consent form within hours, and tell them your expected decision timeline. In a soft market, good applicants have other options — the landlord who moves first with a clear process usually signs them.
可以——前提是对所有人一视同仁。入住日期、人数、就业状况、宠物、搬家原因都是正当的商业问题。不可以的是选择性执行，或把预筛当成按保护事由过滤人的工具。
不能。大额现金换取跳过筛查，是诈骗和问题租客的经典套路——那笔钱买的就是"绕过本会暴露问题的检查"。对所有人走同样的流程。第1单元讲过："钱到账"和"钱结清"根本不是一回事。
可以。入住人数是和户型大小、物业附例挂钩的正当问题。不该问的是住户之间的关系、有没有孩子等任何暴露家庭状况的内容——那是受保护事由。
按RTA第29条：当场获得租客同意，或提前至少24小时书面通知，写明日期、早8点至晚9点之间的时间段和目的。把带看集中到少数几个合规通知过的窗口，不要三天两头单独上门，离开时保持原样。
看房阶段不可以。申请费、手续费被RTA第15条禁止；押金只在正式建立租约时才合法收取，且上限为半个月租金。对方真想定下来，就当天把他推进申请和筛查流程。
不需要。一句及时、中性的"感谢看房，我们决定推进其他申请人"就够了。主动解释有风险无收益——随口一句理由，哪怕您的实际决定完全正当，也可能被解读成触碰保护事由。
只记事实：谁来了、问答了什么、与预筛回答有何出入、下一步是什么。不写对个人特征或处境的猜测。记录按PIPA属于个人信息——只保存必要时长，安全销毁。
拿出见任何陌生人的基本警觉：告知家人位置和时间、手机放在手边、空置房里站近出口、相信直觉——看房随时可以提前结束。集中看房本身也是保护：您很少会和单个陌生人长时间独处。
把出入如实记下；如果对方仍是候选人，就在筛查阶段加倍核实——独立联系推荐人、书面核实收入（第6单元）。记错一个细节是人之常情；人数、宠物、日期反复变化的模式才是真警报。
当天。几小时内把申请表和筛查同意书发给首选候选人，并告知预计的决定时间。租客市场里，好申请人手上有别的选择——流程清晰、动作最快的房东通常签下他们。
LandlordPass provides educational content about property management in British Columbia. This course does not constitute legal, tax, or financial advice. For specific questions about your property, tenancy, or tax situation, consult a qualified professional or contact the Residential Tenancy Branch directly.
LandlordPass 提供关于卑诗省（BC省）物业出租管理的教育性内容。本课程不构成法律、税务或财务意见。中文内容为便于理解的本地化改写，仅供参考；如与英文原文或法律条文有出入，以官方英文法规为准。涉及您房产、租约或税务的具体问题，请咨询合格专业人士或直接联系住宅租赁办公室（RTB）。
📋 Pre-Screening Question Set预筛问题模板
Copy into a Google Form, or paste as a reply to inquiries. Every question is safe under BC Human Rights Code s. 10 and PIPA's minimal-collection principle.可复制到Google表格，或直接作为回复发给咨询者。每个问题都符合BC《人权法》第10条和PIPA最少收集原则。发给租客用英文版；中文注释帮您理解每一项。
Do not add questions about children, marital status, age, religion, origin, immigration status, disability, or income source — all protected grounds.不要自行加问孩子、婚姻、年龄、宗教、原籍、移民身份、残障或收入来源——全部是受保护事由。
🗓 Showing Day Checklist看房日检查清单
Print or copy this checklist for every showing window.每个看房窗口前打印或复制一份。
Showing notes are personal information under PIPA — keep only as long as needed, store securely, dispose properly.看房记录按PIPA属于个人信息——只保存必要时长，妥善存放，安全销毁。