Tenant Checker » commercial real estate 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 The Importance of Screening Residential Tenants http://www.tenantchecker.com/2009/the-importance-of-screening-residential-tenants/ http://www.tenantchecker.com/2009/the-importance-of-screening-residential-tenants/#comments Tue, 01 Sep 2009 23:00:53 +0000 Tenant Checker http://www.tenantchecker.com/?p=216 The examiner.com posted a recent article about the importance of background screening residential tenants.    The article talks about the importance of running tenant credit reports, conducting reference verifications, and screening for criminal history.    The author C arlos Cooper applies some common sense advice about evaluating the results of the background check report.  For example, credit history is an important determinant of your prospective tenant’s ability to pay, however, because of the current economic crisis, good credit doesn’t count for much if your tenant has recently lost their employment.    Conduct references from “landlord, employer, and banking institution”  While it is important to verify employment, be aware that employers may not provide an expansive portrait of your tenants character for fear of litigation.   They will verify dates of employment, employment status, title, which is really all you need.   Seek additional details from prior landlord.

Eviction Records
We would also add that checking for Eviction Records is an important aspect of tenant screening.  While anyone could be struck with hard luck during this economic crisis, be aware that a previous pattern of evictions shows how much respect your prospective tenant has for the contract you are about to sign.



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]]> http://www.tenantchecker.com/2009/the-importance-of-screening-residential-tenants/feed/ 2 The Importance of Tenant Screening http://www.tenantchecker.com/2009/the-importance-of-tenant-screening/ http://www.tenantchecker.com/2009/the-importance-of-tenant-screening/#comments Wed, 27 May 2009 17:48:56 +0000 Tenant Checker http://www.tenantchecker.com/?p=206 More communities are providing forums to help landlords and property owners understand their rights and help them engage effectively with their tenants.  Champlin Minnesota is the newest community to encourage this behavior, which a forum that occurred on May 14th, the second annual landlord forum. 

In addition to discussing low interest loans for property repair, using the Internet to link potential tenants and landlords, they also discussed the important of Tenant Screening.  Large multi-occupancy housing complexes are their own communities and landlords are advised to effectively screen all tenants to protect their communities and their local housing reputation.  All it takes is one bad seed to destroy a neighborhood. Landlords can avoid most negligence lawsuits by conducting a tenant screening program that including credit history report, eviction records, criminal records search, as well as employment verification. 

Predicting future tenant behavior

While you cannot foretell the future, awareness of previous eviction records and horrible credit history are a red flag and shows you how your prospective tenant dealt with financial responsibility in the past.   Unless they have newly discovered financial responsibility and are seeking to turn their lives around, what evidence do you have that they will pay rent ever month and not damage the apartment?



]]> http://www.tenantchecker.com/2009/the-importance-of-tenant-screening/feed/ 0 Background Checks on Tenants in Texas http://www.tenantchecker.com/2008/background-checks-on-tenants-in-texas/ http://www.tenantchecker.com/2008/background-checks-on-tenants-in-texas/#comments Sat, 04 Oct 2008 18:17:05 +0000 Tenant Checker http://www.tenantchecker.com/?p=145 Increasingly, cities across the United States are considering new laws to govern apartment complexes, including new regulations mandating criminal background checks on tenants.  Irving City, Texas is the next big city who’s city council is considering a sweeping proposal of reform.

Landlords also would be required to conduct criminal background checks on all new tenants and would have to participate in a crime-free training program conducted by police. And property owners who lease to tenants who have committed certain crimes, including sexual assault, arson and the manufacture or sale of drugs, could face Class C misdemeanors. Police would provide direction on which prospective tenants are granted exceptions.

This is the first example we have seen where a city would seek to criminalize noncompliance with the new law.  Since we work daily in the background check world, we wonder about all the potential problems this regulation could cause should a problem arise. For example, what happens if the background check misses an arson conviction that occurred 20 years ago and is no longer available at the courthouse record?  What happen an expunged case?  As cities pursue these tougher regulations, and we congratulate them for pursuing this, we hope that city leaders would be fair to their property managers and owners, and not through draconian policies force them to pursue owning property elsewhere.



]]> http://www.tenantchecker.com/2008/background-checks-on-tenants-in-texas/feed/ 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 Tenant Reps role changing in tighter economy http://www.tenantchecker.com/2008/tenant-reps-role-changing-in-tighter-economy/ http://www.tenantchecker.com/2008/tenant-reps-role-changing-in-tighter-economy/#comments Wed, 10 Sep 2008 18:00:12 +0000 Tenant Checker http://www.tenantchecker.com/?p=128 Tenant Representation Brokers across the country are taking on more advisory roles in the face of a tigher economy. They are increasingly helping their client find deals on real estate and managing the expenses involved in searching for commercial leasing, as well as build out construction.   Tenant Reps are helping with negotiating the lease of real estate with the building owners, and can help clients locate cheaper, more affordable office space in areas outside of a firm’s known area of operations.

There has been a significant amount of what I would call hand-holding and advisory services in guiding our tenants on the choices available should they need to make a decision,” said Marc Miller, executive vice president at Winoker Realty Company, a privately-held, mid-size commercial real estate management and leasing firm in Manhattan.


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