As the leaves begin to turn and the chill of autumn fills the air, millions of young adults return to college and university campuses across the United States. There is a sense of excitement, anticipation, and eagerness to get started; the thrill of new experiences and achievements; and the trepidation over living arrangements.
While many colleges offer on-campus housing, the supply often outweighs the demand. Although each community is different and their availability of housing fluid, most communities struggle to keep up with demand.
As the economy struggles to return, many families that have been forced out of ownership have been forced into the rental market. Low cost housing that was once the bailiwick of college students have been taken over by families.
But many college students have more flexibility than the average American family seeking shelter. Parents and family members often contribute financially to a student’s living arrangements and that allows more options. Of course college students seek out other arrangements as well.
Renting a room in a family’s home or renting a house with the cost spread out over several roommates are common practices in towns where rental housing is significantly impacted. But there can be risk involved in not knowing your roommate.
Landlords and property managers are diligent in screening their tenants in order to create safe living environments as well as ensuring the fiscal capability of a tenant. Without a tenant check there can be significant risk and the potential loss to property, both physical and financial, can increase. A thorough tenant check will review a perspective tenant’s fiscal capability, their rental history, and criminal histories.
When a young adult looks into renting a room in a family dwelling, the homeowner should be just as diligent and conduct a tenant check on the student. While they may not have the credit or rental history an older candidate might, it is important to understand what information is available. Often a co-signer may be required, and those individuals should be background checked as well, if only to ensure fiscal responsibility and worthiness.
Renting a home shared by several roommates can be a daunting task as well. This is a risky proposition for a property owner. A tenant check should be conducted on all individuals living in the house and a firm rental agreement in place, one that explicitly outlines the responsibilities of all renters. Further, it may be of benefit for the tenant checks to be shared amongst the group of roommates. This would provide information drawn from public agencies that would inform the group who they are living with.
In the end the challenges of attending college can be severe. Limited classroom space and class selection, reduction in resources, and higher tuition fees all combine to impact the student. Add to this the challenge of finding a viable living space and the pressure increases.
Tenant checks help alleviate the stress. Both for landlords and property managers, as well as a group of roommates that may not know each other, a tenant check can provide valuable information in making a big decision.
TenantScreeningUSA.com has the tools that prove valuable to both landlord and tenant. To get more information go to TenantScreeningUSA.com. They have the experience and access to information required to make an informed rental decision.
