Tenant Checker » California Landlord Rights http://www.tenantchecker.com Tenant Screening, Rental Credit Check and Background Check Services Fri, 16 Apr 2010 17:58:22 +0000 en hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.0 Renters and tenants are victims of mortgage crisis http://www.tenantchecker.com/2008/renters-and-tenants-are-victims-of-mortgage-crisis/ http://www.tenantchecker.com/2008/renters-and-tenants-are-victims-of-mortgage-crisis/#comments Mon, 22 Sep 2008 18:56:55 +0000 Tenant Checker http://www.tenantchecker.com/?p=142 Have you received an eviction notice even though you have paid your rent on time?  Chances are that the property owners are in foreclosure.  According to CBS, renters and tenants in Los Angeles are getting evicted in record numbers due to foreclosure by the owners of the property.

35,000 housing units are currently in default within the city of Los Angeles, and are at risk of being lost by their owners. A large percentage of those homes are occupied by renters who face eviction as their residences are sold.

California state law requires a 60 day eviction notice for tenant who has paid on time and is in a month to month lease situation.  Some renters are getting evictions notices telling them they need to get out in less than that time.  Some renter are claiming that they have been asked to leave in 3 days.  If you are in this situation, call your local authorities and report the eviction.  Usually you will receive a revised eviction notice given you 60 days.   Then the real problems begin.   As more people are looking for replacment housing, the available rental market is feeling a spike in demand; rents are certainly to rise.



]]> http://www.tenantchecker.com/2008/renters-and-tenants-are-victims-of-mortgage-crisis/feed/ 2 Require Your Tenants to get renters insurance http://www.tenantchecker.com/2008/require-your-tenants-to-get-renters-insurance/ http://www.tenantchecker.com/2008/require-your-tenants-to-get-renters-insurance/#comments Mon, 25 Aug 2008 19:32:24 +0000 Tenant Checker http://www.tenantchecker.com/?p=123 According to a survey by Allstate insurance, 60% of tenants nationwide do not have renter’s insurance.   The cost of renter insurance is very cheap, usually $15 to $20 per month, and within the price range for most tenants who are not absolutely destitute.  Some landlords are requiring their tenants to carry renter’s insurance because it protects the landlords cash flow.  Should a tenant sustain a devastating loss without renter’s insurance, they might not be able to pay the rent.  And then the landlord must begin the long and costly job of the eviction process.

Tenant’s Liability

According the OC Register, some tenants believe that they don’t need renter’s insurance because they are covered by the building owner’s policy.  While the building owner’s policy covers the building, it doesn’t cover theft or kitchen fires.  Tenants are arguably liable for “any problem they create” such as a kitchen fire.  Even if your landlord doesn’t require renters insurance, it’s valuable for tenants the protect their property and the risk of a lawsuit with renter’s insurance.   Renter’s insurance should defend you should someone decide to sue you for slipping and falling inside your apartment or on your balcony.  Another little known detail is that renter’s insurance might be able to provide assistance should you be involved in a civil suit, similar to the protection provided by a home owner’s policy.   Talk to your insurance broker about the exact details of each policy.  

Landlords Benefits of Renter’s Insurance

Landlords who require renter’s insurance enjoy the benefits of having tenants who are protected, should a tenant-caused accident occur in the apartment, and it also provides a level of tenant screening, by screening out some tenants who are so strapped that they can’t afford to pay an additional  $15-20 per month.  If your tenants cannot afford this small amount, chances are they might not be able to pay the rent very soon.


]]> http://www.tenantchecker.com/2008/require-your-tenants-to-get-renters-insurance/feed/ 5 Bellflower landlords plan to clean up the blight http://www.tenantchecker.com/2008/bellflower-landlords-plan-to-clean-up-the-blight/ http://www.tenantchecker.com/2008/bellflower-landlords-plan-to-clean-up-the-blight/#comments Wed, 13 Aug 2008 22:37:05 +0000 Tenant Checker http://www.tenantchecker.com/?p=102 There is an exciting and innovative plan afoot in the Southern California city of Bellflower.  Property owners and landlords are getting together to try to rid their town of a blighted stretch on Eucalyptus Avenue.  A wave in crime and police activity inspired the property owners to get together and form an association to raise tax money to fund the improvements.  The improvements will cost approximately 1.9 Million, and the City of Bellflower is expected to chip in an additional $400,000 in city works.

Tenant Screening
According to the article in the Long Beach Press Telegram “The proposal is considering enforcing a tenant screening process to weed out potential troublesome tenants.”  It’s unknown at this time whether the proposed budget will provide a fund to help property managers screen their tenants.

We hope that the City of Bellflower will closely examine the issue before mandating tenant screening.  It’s unknown if tenants would have to a meet a certain background check threshold (no felonies, FICO score 650) required by the city, or whether property managers would be allowed to make their own decisions. While we wholeheartedly believe is screening all potential tenants, we hope that california property owners rights would be upheld.



]]> http://www.tenantchecker.com/2008/bellflower-landlords-plan-to-clean-up-the-blight/feed/ 0 Does Crime-Free Certificate mean Diet Crime? http://www.tenantchecker.com/2008/does-crime-free-certificat-mean/ http://www.tenantchecker.com/2008/does-crime-free-certificat-mean/#comments Thu, 07 Aug 2008 00:13:54 +0000 Tenant Checker http://www.tenantchecker.com/?p=44 We certainly hope the best for Fairfield anti-crime program with property managers in mind.  The Police have established a three phase problem to certify housing complexes with the “Crime-Free” distinction.   According the new article/press release, “The certification program was developed to reduce crime, clean up rental properties and increase property values”

The program sounds like an effective campaign by the city to remove the blight and scourge of multi-occupancy crime.   But really; “crime-free”?  Couldn’t they think of a better word.  Sounds alot like Carbs-free foods – you know the best of intentions by food companies and STILL you continue to gain weight!  Crime-Free doesn’t mean crime-free, because despite the best environmental design, the most advanced lighting system, and the most responsive crisis resolution team, crimes will start with your tenants.  

Most property managers have thin margins and cannot redesign their environments, or hire security guards or install video cameras.  We recommend you conduct tenant background checks with a web-based provider like Corra Tenant Screening or Tenant Checker.   Understanding your prospective tenants criminal history and credit history will allow you see potential patterns of abuse and crime.  

 

]]> http://www.tenantchecker.com/2008/does-crime-free-certificat-mean/feed/ 0 Check your potential tenants criminal record http://www.tenantchecker.com/2008/check-your-potential-tenants-criminal-record/ http://www.tenantchecker.com/2008/check-your-potential-tenants-criminal-record/#comments Tue, 10 Jun 2008 21:47:27 +0000 Tenant Checker http://www.tenantchecker.com/?p=30 Make sure you check out your potential tenant’s criminal history before you offer them the apartment or your home.  An instant criminal database search is a fast way to protect yourself and other tenants  by finding out your renter’s criminal history.   You can go further and conduct hand pulled criminal record searches in the county courthouses where your renter has lived, but these searches can take two or three business days depending on the courthouse.  Some counties take even longer. 

When screening your tenants make sure “the investigation does not exceed the limits set by state and federal law.”  The Los Angeles Times recently listed some instruction for California landlords. 

Since a background check is considered to be a “consumer credit report,” it is governed by California Civil Code Section 1785.13. This statute prohibits screening agencies from using arrest records, indictments or misdemeanor complaints that did not result in convictions. This statute also prohibits the use of convictions that occurred more than seven years before the check.

Under the state and federal fair housing laws, the use of criminal screening, like any other type of screening, must be applied evenly, across-the-board rather than selectively based on certain profiles or stereotypes. 
 
 

 

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