Over the past 12 months, our team at Clark Real Estate has reviewed more than 1,000 tenancy applications across Brisbane’s inner north, from Clayfield to Lutwyche, Windsor to Albion and leased 137 properties so far this year alone. That volume gives us a rare advantage: insight into what separates a good tenant from a great one.
While many landlords focus on income and references alone, our experience (and thousands of property inspections later) shows that the best tenants share a distinct mindset, one that predicts how they’ll care for a property, communicate through issues, and stay long-term.
1. Responsibility Starts Before the Lease
Great tenants reveal themselves early.
Their applications arrive complete, references are verifiable, and their communication is prompt and courteous. These small indicators of organisation often mirror how they’ll handle maintenance requests, rent payments, and vacate expectations later on.
At Clark, we score applications not just on financial stability but on engagement behaviour, how they interact, how they follow process, and how they handle detail. It’s rarely the highest earner who becomes the longest-staying tenant; it’s the one who treats the application process seriously.
2. The “Respect Factor” During Inspections
Our property managers and leasing agent see hundreds of open homes each year, and there’s a clear pattern:
The tenant who takes their shoes off unprompted, checks details respectfully, or asks about maintenance schedules is almost always the one who leaves the home in excellent condition at the end of the tenancy.
Respectful conduct during a five-minute inspection often foreshadows years of care and cooperation.
3. Communicators Stay Longer
Communication is one of the strongest predictors of tenancy longevity.
The tenants who notify us early about small issues, like a leaking tap or a loose hinge are typically the ones who renew their leases. They see the home as theirs to maintain, not just occupy.
Our data backs it up: over the last year, 73% of tenants who renewed their leases had logged at least one proactive maintenance request during the previous term. The small things really do matter.
4. Stability Over Status
A stable rental history beats a high salary every time.
We regularly see applications where incomes vary but lifestyle balance, job consistency, and clarity around household structure provide stronger reliability.
For example, a dual-income household with a moderate combined wage and a two-year rental history in a comparable property is statistically a lower risk than a single high earner with multiple address changes. Longevity lives in the pattern, not the pay slip.
5. Emotional Ownership
Perhaps the most underrated quality we see is what we call emotional ownership, tenants who see the property as their home, not a short-term stop.
These are the tenants who report maintenance early, keep the gardens trimmed, and email us before the lease ends to ask, “Can we renew?”
When a tenant feels proud of where they live, they subconsciously protect the owner’s investment.
“Good tenants pay rent. Great tenants protect assets.”
— Nathan Andrew, Department Manager & Co-Owner, Clark Real Estate
What This Means for Investors
Finding “the perfect tenant” isn’t about luck, it’s about strategy.
Our screening process at Clark Real Estate goes beyond the basic checks to identify the behavioural patterns that predict how someone will live in and care for your property.
That’s how we achieve some of Brisbane’s lowest vacancy rates and strongest retention across Lutwyche, Wooloowin, and the surrounding suburbs.
Want to know how your current tenant measures up?
Speak with our team about a mid-lease review or rental strategy update, we’ll show you what behaviours to watch for and how to retain your best tenants long-term.
Contact Clark Real Estate – Negotiators in your corner