No, that is why most landlords give you a check list upon move-in so that you have about a week to identify problems or deficiencies that need to be addressed. As for trouble-making tenants, part of the problem we have getting rid of them is that the laws are written in the tenants favor and make evicting them a long, drawn out process with a lot of paperwork. The ones who are adept at gaming the system know this and use it to their advantage.
And besides a “prospective tenant” can do an awful lot of damage in 30 days particularly if they know they are not planning on staying. You want 30 days, go stay in a hotel.
True, there are those I would just as soon not rent to and I have had a few that I did not renew their lease but our pre-lease process and high security deposit winnows out most of the ones who are going to be trouble. But, you can’t weed them all out especially students.
You would be surprised at how many people who call me looking for a place to live decide they are not interested when I tell them that our deposit is a full months rent and that we do a credit check and a background check on each occupant. Heck, I have had them back out because of the $30.00 per tenant application fee and this goes directly to the company that does my checks for me; I make nothing off of an application. Those that do stay know that all the others around them have gone through the same process and passed.
Another red flag is someone who comes to me and wants a place immediately. Usually there is a reason for this and most of the time it has to do with needing to get out of somewhere else before they are evicted or forced to pay all the back rent they owe.