Tenant Checker » Landlord Associations 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 More communities discuss tenant screening http://www.tenantchecker.com/2009/more-communities-discuss-tenant-screening/ http://www.tenantchecker.com/2009/more-communities-discuss-tenant-screening/#comments Tue, 21 Jul 2009 19:11:08 +0000 Tenant Checker http://www.tenantchecker.com/?p=208 Communities across the United States are starting to discuss the benefits of tenant screening, including how to conduct a tenant screening and how to follow the applicable state, local and federal laws.  Recently, Brainerd MN held a town hall meeting about tenant screening and this week they are getting to together to discuss it.  The original meeting occurred at the Police Department and was presented by the Police Chief.  Local residents received tips on how to collect information from prospective tenants, how to order a criminal background check, and how to read the background check report.  Most landlords and property managers are not criminal lawyers  and don’t know everything after criminal law terminology.  It’s great that the police chief sat down with the populace and explained how to read a background check report, including the difference between a misdemeanor and a felony, an infraction, as well as disposition information, including the difference between a  conviction and a deferral, or suspended imposition of sentence (or SIS)

Keep in my mind that screening a tenant screening report requires some analysis and evaluation of risk.   The paper version of someone might not match who they are: a DUI from ten years ago, doesn’t mean they are currently an alcoholic.  Look at the totality of the person, including conducting an employment verification and reference checks.



]]> http://www.tenantchecker.com/2009/more-communities-discuss-tenant-screening/feed/ 0 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 Check out your landlords financial strength http://www.tenantchecker.com/2009/check-out-your-landlords-financial-strength/ http://www.tenantchecker.com/2009/check-out-your-landlords-financial-strength/#comments Mon, 20 Apr 2009 19:10:53 +0000 Tenant Checker http://www.tenantchecker.com/?p=172 According to news-press.com, there’s is a growing problem for Florida condominium associations regarding non-paying unit owners who have tenants living in their unit.  These unit owners are behind on their HOA fees and yet Florida law provides that the utilities cannot be disrupted to the tenant living in the unit.   There is a bill before Florida legislature looking into this issue.  Should it pass, tenants in Florida need to made aware, and possibly run background checks on their unit owners to determine their financial strength. 

Desperate Times
These are desperate times, and more than ever you need to start tapping into your a survivalist instinct.  Think of life as an episode of “Man vs. Wild”  But instead of wandering through a Siberian Forest, you are moving through your world on the brink of an apocalypse.  You can save yourself time and money by relearning street smarts.  The stories of older relatives who survived the depression are more relevant than ever.  Now is the time to think carefully about every financial relationship you build, which bank you decide to use, what landlord you want to rent from, want tenant you want to rent to, and the quality and reputation of every business relationship you cultivate.



]]> http://www.tenantchecker.com/2009/check-out-your-landlords-financial-strength/feed/ 0 More local governments encouraging tenant screening http://www.tenantchecker.com/2009/more-local-governments-encouraging-tenant-screening/ http://www.tenantchecker.com/2009/more-local-governments-encouraging-tenant-screening/#comments Fri, 27 Mar 2009 17:53:40 +0000 Tenant Checker http://www.tenantchecker.com/?p=169 As the recession moves from Wall Street to Main Street, local cities are forced to deal with the affects, with shrinking tax revenue.   We were all hopefull during the housing boom that blighted parts of town would be regentrified, and the blight would be replaced by a white picket fence and an interest only mortage.  

Backsliding into chaos
Now, as new housing projects falter and the money dries up, more areas are backsliding into blight and neglect.  Municipalities are concerned about rising crime, particularly crimes of desperation including muggings, burglary, etc.  More cities are focused on the need for maintaining or improving the quality of their large multi-comples housing.   Carroll County Landlords Association is hosting a conference on tenant screening on April 2th, to help landlords learn about what services are all available to them.  

During this hard economic times, it’s reviewing your tenant screening policy.  Is it enough to jsut review your tenant’s credit report?   Should you verify their employment using a qualified employment verifying expert?  The paystub you see might just be the last one they got.


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