Tenant applicant risk simulator
Received an application and want a first read on the risk? Enter the asking rent, the applicant’s income (and the second tenant’s, if any) and whether there are guarantors. The score is indicative and instant.
The applicant’s details
Use provable net income: payslips or a tax return.
A guarantor with their own income answers for the rent if the tenant defaults.
Indicative score
Fill in the asking rent and tenant A’s income to see the score.
What goes into the score
- The income multiple: how many times the household’s net income covers the rent. It is the heart of the assessment, and below 1.3× the application is excluded outright.
- The balance between two tenants: two similar incomes protect each other; when one of them carries almost everything, the second income’s safety is an illusion.
- Guarantors, and whose they are: one guarantor is worth a lot, two are worth the most, and in an unbalanced couple what matters is covering the higher earner.
The practical 3× rule
The market has used a simple rule for decades: household income should be at least 3 times the rent. That is where the score reaches comfortable territory. Between 2× and 3× life happens, but any surprise (a car repair, a month of illness) competes directly with the rent. Below 1.3× not even the best profile compensates: the numbers simply do not add up, and letting it start is a disservice to both sides.
Frequently asked questions
Which income should I use?
Provable net monthly income: recent payslips or a tax return. For the self-employed, a 12-month average is more honest than the best month. Holiday and Christmas allowances can be spread into the annual average, but be consistent across applicants.
Does the score guarantee the tenant will pay?
No. It is an indicative financial screening, not a crystal ball: it measures the headroom between income and rent, which is the best predictor available, but it does not replace references from previous landlords, job stability and common sense at the interview.
The applicant has no guarantor. Is that eliminatory?
No. A guarantor adds points because it adds a second source of payment, but an applicant with a good multiple does not need one. For middling profiles, the classic alternatives are a larger deposit (2–3 months) or rent insurance.
Why don’t two tenants always count double?
Because safety comes from redundancy. If a couple earns €1,500 + €1,400, losing one still leaves half the income. If they earn €2,700 + €200, the second income holds nothing: the tool treats that case almost as a single tenant, which is why it penalises asymmetry.
Is this the same scoring as the platform’s?
Yes, the formula is exactly the one the Tagus Rentals platform applies on each applicant’s record. The difference is that on the platform the calculation is automatic from the record, with the full breakdown, while here it is a manual simulation with a summarised result.
On the platform, risk scoring happens by itself
Register applicants on the property record and the score appears calculated, with the full breakdown and applicant comparison.
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Informative tool. The score is indicative and is not legal or financial advice, nor a decision about any specific applicant. Tenant selection must comply with the law, including the prohibition of discrimination.