Tenant screening is a critical component in vetting tenants for rental properties, large or small. Good tenants remain key to a profitable relationship, protecting existing property and neighbors; and tenant screening is a primary tool toward obtaining that goal.
Property managers and landlords have one key goal: Keeping rental properties occupied. In an era where rental properties are at a premium one might suspect that gaining a renter to be a fairly simple task. Certainly there are available individuals and families that can occupy a property but a long-term renter, one that produces predictable income, can be more of a challenge.
From RealtyToday.com (Sep. 18, 15):
“… as a property manager, you don’t want a ‘bad’ renter.” A bad renter is someone who is late on payments, someone who tears up the floorboards, or someone who has bad credit. Jefferson went on to describe that this type of renter can lead to increased turnover, costly maintenance repairs, and eviction headaches. (1)
Screening a new tenant is more than reviewing public information as provided by a qualified third-party tenant screening company.
Adam Almeida, President and CEO of TenantScreeningUSA.com states: “It is critical that a landlord or property manager has a complete and thorough process when vetting a potential tenant, something more than a simple review of information.”
From RealtyToday.com (Sep. 18, 15):
You should conduct a thorough credit and background check of the prospective renter, contact past employers, references and landlords, and then thoroughly assess the results… Ask the applicant many questions in your first meeting and compare the applicants’ answers with the ones you gathered during your background and reference check. If you find the applicant dishonest or inconsistent, then you might be up for a big risk…(2)
Understanding tenant/landlord laws can easily be overlooked by landlords and property managers.
Almeida states: “A thorough tenant background check is the process toward a good tenant but it is really incumbent on the landlord or property manager to understand the legal environment they work within when conducting a tenant check.”
A number of laws protect landlords in varying degrees across the country with each state slightly different from the next.
From Ahwatukee.com (Oct. 10, 15):
Arizona has favorable landlord laws. However, you still need to follow and know the specific landlord-tenant provisions that cover security deposits, access to the property and notice required when you want to end their tenancy. There also are federal laws you need to know, such as habitability and fair housing laws. (3)
Going the lengths a thorough tenant check demands will reward landlords and property managers. Understanding the financial capability of a potential tenant, combined with past information public records provide, is a first step. A complete interview and verification of references adds greatly to the verification process.
Almeida states: “As any landlord or property manager knows a good tenant is critical to the success of a property. A thorough vetting of prospective tenant information will add greatly to the success in gaining a good tenant.”
TenantScreeningUSA.com is a third-party tenant screening company with operators well versed and trained with all laws and regulations governing the use of public records for tenant screening. With the ability to pull information like credit and criminal checks, TenantScreeningUSA.com can provide all the information required to make an informed decision regarding perspective tenants.
Notes:
(1) realtytoday.com/articles/36503/20150918/3-helpful-tips-when-screening-for-high-quality-tenants.htm
(2) realtytoday.com/articles/36503/20150918/3-helpful-tips-when-screening-for-high-quality-tenants.htm
(3) ahwatukee.com/real_estate/article_69de5d5a-6ee1-11e5-b339-bf7b7be27964.html
