Things to Remember You must obtain the applicants permission to conduct a tenant background checkwhich can be a standard part of your application procedure. E Renter can handle your background screening to ensure you are within the guidelines of the FCRA. Being unaware of a persons criminal history before placing them in your rental property is just not a good idea. A tenant criminal background check will ensure that your prospective tenants information is correctsuch as name, Social Security Number, and current address. It will also tell whether the person has any criminal record at the state, county, and national level (subject to state law). What Landlords Need to Know Is the prospective tenant employed? If so, how long have they been with their employer? Job stability is a favorable sign. Why Pre screen Tenants? Because when you lease your property to a complete stranger, you are putting yourself at great financial risk. How strong is the tenants credit history? Are there liens and judgments against them? What about previous evictions and other legal problems? Has the prospective tenant been convicted of any crimesand if so, what was the offense? What a Tenant Screening Report will Reveal Prescreening tenants will show whether your applicant has a favorable history with previous landlords, allowing you to avoid tenants with a history of late payment or evictions. Youll know whether the applicant has been convicted of a crime or not, along with the type of offense, date, and locality. If you reject an applicant for credit reasons, you must advise them in writing. The notification must be a separate document, however. . It will also reveal outstanding judgments or bankruptcy filings, as well as previous addresses to compare with those supplied on the application. They might steal or damage your property. Sex offenses are also reported, but information varies by state.From reducing your risk to and tenant turnover, to improving everything from cash flow, profits, and your chances of sleeping at night tenant screening has become an integral component of smart landlords standard procedures. They could abandon your rental unit with no notice, owing you back rent. Weve all heard stories of bad tenants taking appliances and light fixtures when they move outyou dont want that to happen to you! And theres risk to surrounding neighbors, as well. Landlord Risks Your new tenant could pay rent lateor not at all.Tenant Screening has real advantages for landlords. Finally, tenant background checks reveal any aliases used, incarcerations, and whether the potential tenant has been placed on federal terrorist watch lists or is listed as an international narcotics trafficker. In a litigious society, mitigating your chances of being sued is absolutely necessary. Also, all information you learn from a credit report must be held in LED Light Housing strictest confidence, and never shared with third parties. Tenant screening will reveal whether the prospective tenant pays his or her bills on time, including credit cards and loans. Your applicant may have a right to the reportcheck your states guidelines and the Fair Credit Reporting Act (FCRA) to be sure you are compliant. Knowing your prospective tenants previous rental, credit and job history is essential when determining if they will be an acceptable risk. Not only are neighboring adults and children at risk of being harmed, but you, as the landlord, could be held liable for your tenants actions.