Income suites are an emerging trend in Canada that could find a greater foothold in the United States. Essentially separate living spaces within a single-family dwelling, an income suite could have a financial benefit to the home owner, especially within a continuing transitory American populace.

But what exactly is an income suite?

From theChronicleHerald.ca (Feb. 02, 15)

The concept is simple enough — turn an area of your home into a legal, self-contained apartment then collect rent each month to off-set the costs of owning and maintaining the property. (1)

With housing costs beginning a slow upward climb the idea of additional income is certainly a welcome one. Recently, in the United States, home owners have been trading up to newer, larger properties without selling the original home. These homes are turned into rentals, as a means of creating additional income. Income suites could be the next evolution as the opportunity to turn existing homes into rentals becomes prohibitive. However there are certain rules one must abide by in order to have a legal and lawful income suite.

From www.RevNYou.com (No Date Provided):

A legal suite is when you add a rental unit to a property following the building codes of the city you’re in and doing everything from electrical to plumbing to framing with a permit. As each step in the process gets complete an inspection will be completed to make sure that it all meets the building codes for your area. An illegal suite is when you put in the rental unit without permits. (2)

In a recent article on homes.com greater detail was provided in regards to the requirements of an income home. An interesting comment is:

There must be enough space to build a kitchen, bathroom, storage, living room, and bedroom. The living room and bedroom can be one large room if space is limited; this will be a studio-style income suite. An ideal income suite would have a laundry room as well. (3)

Adam Almeida, President and CEO of TenantScreeningUSA.com states: “An income suite is really no different than renting out a single-family dwelling or an apartment over the garage. And it is important for the owner of that unit to conduct a full and thorough tenant check. After all an income suite is in close proximity of the owner and owner’s family.”

Tenant background checks consist of public records drawn either from county courthouses or databases. The most common tenant screening documents are:

• Consumer Credit Report – Offers information on the fiscal stability of a potential tenant
• Evictions – Offers information on an applicant’s past as related to rental stability
• Criminal History – Drawn from county courthouses, this is the most current and accurate information available
• Sexual Predator Registry – Provides information on convicted predators and sex criminals

A best practice offered to landlords and property managers of large rental communities remains the same for those seeking to rent an income suite: Work with a third-party tenant screening company.

A third-party tenant screening company is tasked with staying current on laws and legislation governing the rental screening industry and can provide a landlord with the information required to make a sound decision.

TenantScreeningUSA.com is a third-party tenant screening company that can provide the information landlords and property managers require to make decisions over potential renters. Specializing in working with smaller properties, TenantScreeningUSA.com can provide low-cost and highly effective programs from income suite property owners.

Notes:

(1) thechronicleherald.ca/homesnews/1266863-having-a-rental-unit-in-your-home

(2) revnyou.com/adding-a-suite-to-a-house/

(3) blog.homes.com/2013/06/add-an-income-suite-to-your-home-and-gain-revenue/

In 2015 a higher number of multi-family rental properties will hit the market and rents will increase slightly slower than previous years.  In general, good news for rental property owners.  But with an ever changing rental environment the need for solid, long-term renters will remain an absolute and landlords need to thoroughly screen perspective tenants in order to secure those long-term residents.

According to recent reports the rental market will continue to grow in 2015.

From a recent report on CPExecutive.com discussing market trends in the rental market:

Rent growth at multi-family properties across the United States in 2015 is expected to increase 4.5 percent for Class A and B+ assets and 5.1 percent for Class B and C assets, with some technology-heavy Western markets seeing spikes as high as 9 percent.  (1)

New building of multi-family properties began during the tail-end of 2014.

From Forbes.com (Nov 19, 14):

… the numbers show that builders are placing their energy in multi-family housing. While permits issued for single-family homes rose by just 1.4% (to a seasonally adjusted annual rate of 640,000) in October, permitting for buildings with five or more units jumped 8% above September’s level (to 406,000 in October).  (2)

An additional impact on the rental market includes a return to long-term investing of housing purchases.  In previous years much of the investment was based on short-term flipping strategies.  In 2015 this is predicted to change to a longer view and investment in housing and, subsequently, renters.

From USANews.com (Jan 01, 15):

Auction.com, the largest online real estate marketplace, recently released survey data collected from investors bidding on properties across the country, which confirmed that buying property to hold and rent is currently favored over flipping nationwide.  (3)

Ultimately the goal of any proper landlord and/or property manager is to gain and maintain as many long-term renters as possible.  Long-term renters provide predictable income and a solid reputation for a property (a critical component in attracting long-term renters).

Profit is an obvious objective of a rental property.  As rents increase it may appear even more obvious, especially in areas where availability is tight and competition for rental units occurs.  Yet environments such as these demand the same scrutiny of potential renters as a flat or retreating market.  In a decreasing rental market, properties can remain empty or require incentives for new tenants.  In an increasing rental market, properties can churn if renters are not thoroughly vetted and fail to maintain the demands of a rental agreement, or suddenly move due to more favorable rental conditions.

Landlords and property managers must thoroughly vet potential renters regardless of rental market movement.

Adam Almeida, President and CEO of TenantScreeningUSA.com states:  “Landlords thorough tenant background checks, regardless of market, will continue to find success in obtaining long term renters.  After all the demands of the investment require long-term renters that provide a predictable income.  This fact remains true in both a long and short market.”

Tenant screening offers landlords and property managers the information required in order to make a well informed decision about a potential tenant.  Tenant screening provides information on:

1. The ability to financially fulfill a rental agreement through the review of consumer credit reports.
2. The ability to maintain a safe living environment through the review of criminal histories and sex offender registries.
3. The ability to maintain a solid reputation of property through the review of eviction reports.

Almeida states:  “Reviewing information commonly found in tenant screening reports will help a landlord or property manager make an informed decision about potential tenants and, subsequently, acquire long-term tenants, regardless of market conditions.”

TenantScreeningUSA.com is a third-party tenant screening company with an experienced staff highly trained in all aspects of tenant screening, including laws and regulations governing the use of public records.  With programs designed specifically for first-time and/or small unit landlords and property managers, TenantScreeningUSA.com can provide all the tenant screening tools required for a successful and enjoyable experience.

Notes:

(1)          http://www.cpexecutive.com/property-types/multi-family/pierce-eislen-rent-growth-for-m-f-properties-predicted-in-2015/1004109959.html

(2)          http://www.forbes.com/sites/erincarlyle/2014/11/19/housing-starts-fall-2-8-as-builders-plan-for-more-multi-family-down-the-road/

(3)          http://money.usnews.com/money/blogs/the-smarter-mutual-fund-investor/2015/01/01/flip-or-hold-best-real-estate-moves-for-2015

As the year 2014 begins to fade into its final weeks and days, moments of reflection arise. In particular, tenant screening; the why and the what.

Tenant screening, also known as tenant checks, is the process of vetting potential tenants for residential rental properties. These properties can be single unit dwellings or a unit within a larger, more complex residential community.

BusinessDictionary.com defines a residential rental property as:

… a property from which the owner receives payment from the occupant(s), known as tenants, in return for occupying or using the property. Rental properties may be either residential or commercial. The owner of rental property may be allowed to take certain tax deductions such as mortgage interest and depreciation. (1)

Landlords and property managers are charged with the vetting process of a new tenant and, commonly, tenant screening plays a central role in this process. The primary purpose of tenant screening is to protect the financial investment of the owner and protecting existing tenants.

Adam Almeida, President and CEO of TenantScreeningUSA.com states: “Conducting a tenant check is the single most important activity a landlord or property manager can engage. Information gathered from a tenant check can provide the data a landlord or property manager requires in making a decision about a perspective tenant.”

Tenant background checks draw upon public records also known as consumer reports.

Typical reports used are:

1. Credit reports – used for determining financial solvency

2. Evictions – used to determine reliability and responsibility in a rental relationship

3. Sex Offender – used to determine potential safety for existing tenants

4. Criminal history – used to determine potential safety of existing tenants

The Federal Trade Commission is tasked with ensuring the legal and lawful use of consumer reports:

From the FTC (www.business.ftc.gov)

If you’re a landlord, you may use consumer reports to evaluate rental applications – as long as you follow the provisions of the Fair Credit Reporting Act (FCRA). The FCRA is designed to protect the privacy of consumer report information and to guarantee that the information supplied by consumer reporting agencies (CRAs) is as accurate as possible. The FCRA requires landlords who deny a lease based on information in the applicant’s consumer report to provide the applicant with an “adverse action notice.” (2)

Almeida states: “It is important to note that the use of consumer reports is a complicated task and one that should be fulfilled by third-party tenant screening companies, those that can ensure compliancy for landlords and property managers.”

Third-party tenant screening companies can be a significant benefit to the landlord and property manager. Governed by the Fair Credit Reporting Act or FCRA, third-party screeners must maintain current knowledge of all laws and requirements governing tenant screening.

In review:

Why – To protect financial investment and existing tenants

What – Tenant checks are the gathering of public information, or consumer reports

Who – Third-party tenant screening companies trained in the lawful and legal use and distribution of consumer reports specific to tenant checks

TenantScreeningUSA.com is a third-party tenant screening company with highly trained and skilled operators working within the rules and regulations of tenant screening as defined by the FCRA. With the ability to access information from databases and county courthouses, TenantScreeningUSA.com can provide the information required for landlords and tenants of properties large and small.

Notes:

(1) http://www.businessdictionary.com/definition/rental-property.html#ixzz3Ktd5ALOL

(2) http://www.business.ftc.gov/documents/bus49-using-consumer-reports-what-landlords-need-know

Bad tenants may be unavoidable. Of course, if a bad tenant can be avoided it behooves a landlord to take every step possible to do so.

From The Globe and Mail (Sep. 03, 13):

Selecting a disreputable tenant who causes major damage to a unit can leave a landlord with a significant bill for clean-up and repairs, scare off other regularly paying tenants, and even label the landlord as inattentive or with the classic slumlord designation. (1)

But the landlord/tenant relationship is a challenge in and of itself. Many landlords and property managers will suggest that the relationship between tenant and landlord is so fraught with tension that “bad tenants,” real or otherwise, will always exist.

From the Huffington Post (Nov. 06, 14):

Disagreements abound over every aspect of the rental process, from payments to repairs, leases to drop-ins. On What Does the Internet Think, a site that uses linguistic analysis to determine how positively something is viewed online, landlords have a negativity rating of 98.9 percent — higher than headaches (95 percent), taxes (79 percent) and even adultery (just 51 percent!). (2)

With so much negativity going around the perception a tenant receives from a landlord or property manager could differ greatly from the reality.

Communication is a critical component in the tenant/landlord relationship

From the Huffington Post (Nov. 06, 14):

… anxiety and conflict between landlords and tenants can be avoided when both parties lay out their expectations explicitly at the beginning of the relationship…(3)

As the application process commences a landlord/property manager should communicate with potential candidates each step of the process and what should be expected. The key to trying to avoid a bad tenant is thorough communication.

There are multiple steps to screening a tenant and attempting to avoid a bad one.

1. Completing a full application, preferably through an on-line secure platform such as TenantScreeningUSA.com. The depth and thoroughness of an application is generally up to a landlord but should request enough information to make a fully informed decision about an applicant.

2. Conduct a face-to-face interview with applicants and include all potential adult residents.

3. Complete a thorough tenant background check and include consumer credit report, evictions, and criminal histories.

4. Personal references.

From www.LegalZoom.com:

Keep in mind that the best references in this situation are not personal friends and/or roommates but previous landlords—even better if it’s not the current landlord, who could be so ready to get rid of that tenant that he or she might not paint a true picture. Past and present employers can also make for reliable references depending on the type of work the potential tenant does and the length of employment. (4)

Asking questions throughout the process is important as well. If information comes across as incomplete or unbelievable probe further until a satisfactory response is achieved. If one cannot be found it may be best to end the relationship and look for a different tenant.

Adam Almeida, President and CEO of TenantScreeningUSA.com states: “Communication combined with a thorough vetting process, including a tenant check, will greatly assist landlords and property managers in avoiding bad tenants. Are bad tenants 100% avoidable? Probably not, but if one takes all the steps in a thorough vetting process the risk is greatly reduced.

TenantScreeningUSA.com is a third-party tenant screening company that can assist landlords and property managers in creating a thorough and complete tenant screening process. Utilizing unique screening tools and accessing multiple background reports, TenantScreeningUSA.com can potentially assist in avoiding bad tenants.

Notes:

(1) http://www.theglobeandmail.com/globe-investor/personal-finance/mortgages/how-to-steer-clear-of-bad-tenants/article12468447/?page=2

(2) http://www.huffingtonpost.com/max-nussenbaum/how-to-fix-the-landlord-tenant-relationship_b_6107732.html?utm_hp_ref=huffpost-home&ir=HuffPost+Home

(3) ibid

(4) https://www.legalzoom.com/articles/how-to-protect-yourself-from-bad-tenants

Small unit or property landlords should conduct tenant background checks for the same reasons larger properties conduct them: Risk mitigation.

Individuals seeking to take advantage know that small property landlords or property managers are less likely to conduct tenant checks.

From www.NWITimes.com (Oct. 04, 14):

A survey on landlord practices conducted by independent research firm Liminality, Inc., on behalf of Real Property Management, found 21 percent of do-it-yourself landlords sometimes or never conducted background checks on their prospective tenants. Only 44 percent conducted sex-offender checks.

…says DIY landlords don’t have the time or resources to screen tenants, which can lead to property damage, legal fees and more. http://www.nwitimes.com/lifestyles/home-and-garden/why-sell-when-you-can-keep-rental-properties-create-revenue/article_4879d6b3-a01b-54c0-9a81-1994207b6db9.html

A tenant check provides a landlord with the information they require in order to make an informed decision about a potential renter. But there are some common misconceptions.

From www.theWashingtonPost.com (Sep. 29, 14)

Small-scale landlords are less likely to run a background check or check for evictions and other legal issues, and may not even run a credit check… http://www.washingtonpost.com/express/wp/2014/09/19/no-pay-stub-not-so-great-credit-some-issues-can-make-renting-tricky-but-not-impossible/

Adam Almeida, President and CEO of TenantScreeningUSA.com states: “Landlords of any size have access to the same data point’s larger properties access, including consumer credit checks and evictions.”

Risk mitigation for small unit landlords is all about person and property.

Almeida states: “The biggest asset any landlord has is a long-term tenant. This is especially true for small unit landlords.”

Creating an environment conducive to long-term tenants can be a challenge. First, a landlord must create an attractive property. Maintaining a property – one that is both attractive and safe – is important to long-term tenants. Fixing small things and keeping an apartment fresh in appearance will go a long way.

However, a tenant check remains a critical tool.

From www.news.com.au (Sep. 23, 14):

“Speak with previous landlords or property managers and ask specifically whether they had any issues with the tenant in the past…” http://www.news.com.au/finance/real-estate/bad-tenants-dont-only-cause-headaches-they-can-cost-property-owners-thousands/story-fncq3era-1227067587241

Almeida adds: “Checking a potential tenants past is so important. The information gathered can greatly assist landlords make critical decisions.”

Key elements of a tenant check include:

1.  Consumer credit report – measure a potential tenant’s ability to fulfill financial obligation.
2. Unlawful detainers – will show a tenant eviction history.
3. Criminal history – will provide criminal history on a county level and is the most current form of public record.
4.  Sex offender registry – will show any convictions as well as the level of any offense.

There are additional reasons small property landlords should work with third-party tenant screening companies.

Almeida adds: “The laws governing the tenant screening industry are rapidly changing. Laws and regulations governing the use of public records continue to evolve. Third party background tenant screening companies are tasked in staying current with all these rules. Small property landlords that utilize third party tenant screeners will have access to that knowledge.”

Working with a third-party tenant screening company could assist a landlord in avoiding the cost of breaking a law.

In the end it is hugely beneficial for small property landlords to work with a third-party tenant screening company. They will offer the information required to make an informed decision as well as provide the information to stay compliant with laws and regulations governing the tenant screening industry.

TenantScreeningUSA.com is a third-party tenant screening company specializing in the needs and requirements of small unit landlords and property managers. With skilled and high trained operators available for consultation, TenantScreeningUSA.com is ready to assist in mitigating risk and helping landlords make difficult decisions.

Being a landlord for a small property is not a simple task.  Small property landlords take on all the assignments larger properties can meter out to different people.  Essentially, a small property landlord is a one man marching band, that is, responsible for every task.

However, the goal of any landlord or property manager, regardless the size of the property or how many rental units are available is the same:  Long-term tenants.

A long-term tenant provides a degree of financial predictability but provides a great deal more when one considers a bigger picture.  Long-term tenants are the result of hard work, dedication, and understanding the three P’s of Rental Properties:  People, Place, and Perception.

People – The people that reside in a property will make or break that property.  One bad tenant can disrupt a harmonious tenant-landlord relationship and drive away potential or existing long-term renters.  It is incumbent on the landlord to create this harmonious relationship through the vetting process.  Conducting a complete and thorough tenant vetting process, one that includes an application, face-to-face meeting/tour, and a tenant check is integral.

Tenant background checks are the central component in the vetting process.  Tenant checks have two distinct features:

1.    Tenant checks draw information and data from public records, such as consumer credit reports, unlawful detainers, and related.
2.    Reference checks verify a tenants past, specifically with previous landlords and property managers, as well as employment.

Once individuals, roommates, or families have taken residence it is critical for the landlord or property manager to maintain a given property.

Place – A critical eye of the property will help a landlord.  Maintaining the appearance of the property with regular maintenance and quick repair as required can assist in gaining a long-term renter.  Further, ensuring there are no hazards such as exposed wiring or trip/fall hazards can decrease risk and liability.

InsuranceNet.com states the obvious but comments well worth repeating.

From InsuranceNet.com:  (Aug. 08, 14)

That includes changing the locks so the tenant isn’t liable for any keys that may be floating around, and making sure that the unit(s) has a fire extinguisher and working smoke alarms. (1)

Keeping a property well-maintained greatly assists in developing and enhancing a relationship with a tenant.  Fulfilling a promise goes a long way.

The third P in the triad is more difficult to define.

Perception – How other potential renters view a property as a whole could make or break the investment.  If a property has a poor perception due to frequent police visits, poor maintenance and landscaping, and an overall lack of care, landlords will be hard pressed to gain long-term residents.  Standards on tenants may drop or decrease as a unit sits empty.  The profitability on a poorly perceived property can decrease significantly

Adam Almeida, President and CEO of TenantScreeningUSA.com states:  “A well-perceived property becomes highly sought.  With well vetted tenants in place combined with a highly maintained property, perception can be relatively easy; however there are additional pieces that lead to a positive perception.”

Properties should be well lit and secure.  Either through a gated-community and/or patrolled property tenants should feel safe within their rental property.  Frequent police patrols can assist in decreasing the potential of crime and, subsequently, enhance the perception of a property.

Almeida adds:  “Once a property gains a positive perception within the rental community, combined with great existing tenants and a well-maintained property, long-term tenants become an easier proposition.”

TenantScreeningUSA.com is a third-party tenant screening company that can greatly assist landlords and/or property managers in vetting potential tenants.  TenantScreeningUSA.com has the access to information landlords of properties large and small demand.  Utilizing third-party tenant screening is a best practice for any rental property.

Notes:
(1)    http://insurancenewsnet.com/oarticle/2014/08/08/turning-a-profit-a-541821.html#.VAyibMJdV1Y

The tenant screening process can be challenging, especially for individuals new to the process. In a time when more and more people are becoming first time landlords by renting rather than selling a home before moving to a new home, lack of knowledge can be critical and costly mistakes may occur.

There are a number of steps landlords and property managers take in the vetting of new tenants:

1. Application – A complete and thorough application is only the first step. The information gathered on a rental application is used by the landlord to conduct a tenant check.

2. Interview and Property Tour – One of the most informative steps a landlord can take, especially a new landlord, is a property tour. During the course of a property tour the potential tenant essentially goes through a walking interview. Listening to a tenant’s responses can greatly inform the landlord.

3. Tenant Check – A tenant check consists of public records as well as verifications. Information gathered during a tenant check will greatly inform a landlord’s decision.

The tenant check can consist of the following:

a. Consumer Credit Report – Credit reports are drawn to show fiduciary capability or, in other words, a tenant’s ability to fulfill the monetary requirements of a lease or rental agreement

b. Criminal History – This report is often the most current and accurate public record. Drawn from the county courthouse, a criminal history report will detail convictions of a candidate during a specific period of time.

c. Verifications – There are several forms of verification that can be provided but most important may be personal references, specifically previous landlord.

d. Evictions or Unlawful Detainer – This report is, perhaps, the most telling document a landlord can use as it greatly informs a potential tenant’s rental history. It is integral to the tenant screening process for obvious reasons.

What is eviction or unlawful detainer?

Eviction is generically defined as:

eviction n. a generic word for the act of expelling (kicking out) someone from real property either by legal action (suit for unlawful detainer), a claim of superior (actual) title to the property, or actions which prevent the tenant from continuing in possession (constructive eviction). Most frequently eviction consists of ousting a tenant who has breached the terms of a lease or rental agreement by not paying rent, or a tenant who has stayed (held over) after the term of the lease has expired or only had a month-to-month tenancy. http://legal-dictionary.thefreedictionary.com/eviction

New landlords should also be aware of the term “unlawful detainer,” which is more commonly used when removing a tenant from a property as part of a legal action.

Unlawful Detainer

The act of retaining possession of property without legal right.

The term unlawful detainer ordinarily refers to the conduct of a tenant who is in possession of an apartment or leased property and refuses to leave the premises upon the expiration or termination of the lease. Typically, the landlord wishes to evict the tenant for not paying the rent or for endangering the safety of the other tenants or the landlord’s property. http://legal-dictionary.thefreedictionary.com/unlawful%20detainer

While eviction and unlawful detainer appear to be synonyms they are not. Eviction is a generic definition and unlawful detainer is a specific legal term and definition.

Eviction records start out as court records and are eventually held in frequently updated databases.

Moreover, it is critical for landlords, especially new landlords understand that eviction requirements are stringent, in order to protect tenants, and may differ from state-to-state.

For example, in the state of California a “landlord may be able to evict a tenant if the tenant:

• Fails to pay the rent on time;

• Breaks the lease or rental agreement and will not fix the problem (like keeping when pets are not allowed);

• Damages the property bringing down the value (commits “waste”);

• Becomes a serious nuisance by disturbing other tenants and neighbors even after being asked to stop; or

• Uses the property to do something illegal.

In most cities, the landlord can also evict the tenant:

• If he tenant stays after the lease is up, or

• If the landlord cancels the rental agreement by giving proper notice.” http://www.courts.ca.gov/selfhelp-eviction.htm

The best practice any landlord can make is to work with a third-party tenant screening company. Ultimately a third-party will be able to provide all the public records and references a landlord might require. Further, they can provide insight and understanding to key reports such as eviction documents.

TenantScreeningUSA.com is a third-party tenant screening company that can provide a wide-variety of reports and documents critical in the decision making process for landlords, new and existing. To get started go to www.tenantscreeningusa.com.

Every year toward the middle of summer fresh high school graduates across the country turn their attention to leaving home and attending college. Some will move thousands of miles and others will stay close to home, but a large percentage of these new college students will be living on their own in a rented property for the first time.

Many large colleges and universities can provide on-campus housing, often pairing up two or more students in dorms. Additionally, housing can be provided in a rental type situation whereas the student can pick those that may share the apartment.

But demand often outweighs supply and that creates a situation of almost near desperation for the student and their families.

It can create a crisis of time management for small property or single-unit landlords as well. In order to fill properties the temptation to cut corners may exist. But it is important to remain vigilant and conduct a thorough vetting process of a college student just as one might with a long-term renter. And a tenant check is central to the vetting process.

A tenant check helps a landlord in three main areas:

1. Protecting the property. Tenant screening can provide information on a potential tenant or tenants by reviewing information retrieved from public records or through verification of personal recommendations, previous residence, and related.

2. Protecting the community. While smaller landlords may not have much of a community to protect, it is important to ensure the safety and security of existing tenants, or, in terms of renting a room or apartment attached to a garage, the family.

3. Protecting the investment. Running credit information on an incoming freshman may not make sense, but savvy landlords know running a credit check on guarantors such as parents or other relatives makes perfect sense. Often rentals are not even in the student’s name. Running a credit check on the individual or individuals that pay the rent is a best practice.

A tenant background check of college-aged renters also assists the community at large. Conducting a national sex offender registry check should be a part of a tenant check. While the incoming freshman may be free of any sexual malfeasance, older students may have a troubled past. It is incumbent on any landlord to protect the greater community.

Moreover, a tenant check conducted on a college-aged student must be as thorough as a tenant check conducted on more traditional, long-term renters. Treating a potentially short-term rental equal to a longer-term rental makes sense, and will provide surety in the relationship between landlord and tenant.

Adam Almeida, President and CEO of TenantScreeningUSA.com states: “Protecting people and property is at the core of tenant screening and owners of small unit apartment complexes or a family renting out a room or garage apartment should remain diligent.”

Working with a third-party tenant screening company such as TenantScreeningUSA.com would be the smartest step a small unit/single-family dwelling landlord could take. Not only can a third-party gather all the public documents required, such as evictions, sex offender registry, criminal history, and credit reports; a third-party can review all personal recommendations.

Almeida states: “Sometimes the most important piece of information a young college student can provide is a personal reference. Verification would be vital.”

In the end, the key to happy renter/landlord relationship is a tenant check. Allowing a landlord to make a well-informed decision based on public records, personal references, and tenant screening, will help create a harmonious relation with a tenant.

TenantScreeningUSA.com provides full service background screening to landlords and property managers of any size. Whether it is a long-term permanent rental, or a relatively short-term student rental, TenantScreeningUSA.com offers complete tenant background check solutions. For more information contact www.TenantScreeningUSA.com today.

Recently TransUnion celebrated the one millionth user of the SmartMove platform. TenantScreeningUSA.com, as a leading supplier of the SmartMove tenant screening portal, joins in the celebration.

But what is SmartMove?

Simply put SmartMove is the easiest, simplest, most secure Internet based tenant screening platform that provides the information a landlord needs with the security a potential tenant demands.

In a time of increasing identity theft consumers need a secure way of sharing information that will not put them at jeopardy. Recent data breaches from a broad range of companies, organizations, and government entities, have exposed the potential threat to data. From Facebook to Target, from Maricopa County Community College District to Administrative Office of the Courts of Washington State, data has been hacked and exposed. http://www.networkworld.com/article/2286787/4g/135100-The-worst-data-breach-incidents-of-2013.html

One area of concern that may be overlooked is in the transaction of a rental application. Tenants may be exposed to potential information theft as handwritten, paper applications are still a primary source of data transmission. Considering that the key pieces of information required for identity theft are on a rental application, removing that risk by moving the information transmission to a safe, secure Internet portal makes sense.

Enter SmartMove.

SmartMove keeps private information private. Information such as Social Security Number, date of birth and bank account numbers remain secure. The key is in working through the online SmartMove system via TransUnion – a leading and trusted supplier of consumer data – which never reveals specific personal data to a potential landlord or property manager.

Other benefits for a renter include:

• Fast application processing – Consent for tenant check is provided on-line and, subsequently, the check is conducted in a blink of an eye and the landlord can make a quick decision.
• Credit protection – A credit score will not be negatively impacted due to a “search” of a credit report.
• Online – No paper applications or files that can get lost, stolen, or inappropriately “found.”

As provided by TenantScreeningUSA.com, the SmartMove benefits for a landlord are just as compelling.

Landlords and property managers need information fast and in a complete and comprehensive format. SmartMove can provide access for landlords of small to mid-size properties with the same information utilized by the big boys. Not only is SmartMove safe and secure, it is fast. And often times the speed of information is the most important factor for a landlord.

Consider the ideal candidate standing in the office, check in hand, waiting approval for a property that has been vacant and NOT making money. The landlord doesn’t want that individual to leave and potentially discover a different property. Speed is of the essence!

SmartMove provides a comprehensive report on a potential renter in a matter of minutes, not hours. Reporting information is comprehensive and provides full access to consumer credit and criminal history reports. SmartMove can provide a rental/leasing recommendation, including a single recommendation for joint renters and co-signers.

And, perhaps as important as speed, is cost. SmartMove from TenantScreeningUSA.com has flexible payment terms with no set-up cost nor monthly minimums. Further, SmartMove can be set up to accept payment from the landlord or the renter.

Ultimately, SmartMove is a safe, secure, and cost-effective way to conduct a tenant background check. TenantScreeningUSA.com in partnership with TransUnion can set up landlords and renters in a matter of minutes.

TenantScreeningUSA.com is a nationally recognized tenant screening company with a skilled and knowledgeable staff available to assist landlords and property managers with their tenant screening needs.

The signs of summer’s approach are all around and plans for summer vacation are underway. Many families will take time to travel to far off destinations but a great many will stay closer to home. Perhaps they will stay at a hotel or they might rent a home or similar property for a summer adventure.

Renting a vacation property is the same as renting a long-term residence. A potential applicant searches for a property, makes a query, goes through the vetting process with the landlord, comes to a financial agreement, and moves in for a specific amount of time.

The options for properties are broad and the types and variety of properties continues to grow. In the past few years individuals took advantage of the recent economic downturn and purchased a new home, but instead of selling old for new, they became a landlord.

Recently the Los Angeles Times printed a lengthy article about becoming a first-time landlord.

From the Los Angeles Times (APR. 24, 14):

The real estate market has long worked on a simple system: If you want to buy a new house, sell the old one and use the equity for a down payment.

But the last few years of low ownership costs and rising rents have some move-up buyers trying a new approach: Buy the new house. Keep the old one. And rent it out. http://articles.latimes.com/2014/apr/05/business/la-fi-first-time-landlords-20140405

The temptation to be a landlord is great. Currently, the value of a monthly rent exceeds the cost of a monthly mortgage. Subsequently, the opportunity to gain additional income for renting an existing property is very real, but there are risks involved in becoming a landlord, especially with a vacation property.

Landlords and property managers of long-term residential rental properties know that the key to a successful relationship with a tenant begins with the vetting or application process. A landlord will conduct an interview, gather an application, and conduct a tenant background check.

The same process should hold true for a landlord renting out a short-term vacation property.

Adam Almeida, President and CEO of TenantScreeningUSA.com states: “There is no difference in renting a long-term residential occupancy to a short-term, other than duration. A landlord must conduct a tenant check in all rental situations.”

Some might question a tenant check for a single week of renting as the property rental is generally secured through a credit card deposit, but with any rental situation, long or short, comes the potential for risk, and risk mitigation is at the core of tenant screening.

Tenant Background Checks not only confirm the financial veracity of a tenant, but can be used to check criminal and sex offender histories. A thorough check of public records greatly assists in protecting property as well as neighbors and other local residents. Lack of tenant screening and subsequent bad tenants may lead to a bad reputation of a given property and, subsequently, a lower income from a less desirable property.

“The three key benefits of tenant screening are protecting property, people, and reputation. And every landlord and property manager, especially those first-time landlords with vacation properties, should conduct a thorough tenant check of all their applicants.”

TenantScreeningUSA.com is a third-party background screening company that provides in-depth tenant checks to landlords and property managers for all sizes and types of rental complexes. From the single-unit to the large community, TenantScreeningUSA.com has the background screening reports and online tenant screening system to greatly assist any landlord or property manager properly vet prospective tenants.