The key to finding good tenants and protecting property and community is the utilization of professional tenant screening. This is not an area where any landlord or property manager should cut corners, it is essential that proper background screening of prospective tenants be conducted by a professional tenant screening agency. It is necessary to get all the background reports like from conducting criminal background checks and eviction checks along with completing all pertinent reference checks to verify all information on a leasing application. All landlords and property managers should know the importance of tenant screening a prospective tenant from the first greeting through the entire application process.
Tenant screening is one of the critical components of a thorough background check on all prospective tenants. On a whole the vetting process entails several components, starting with the application process. Every application must be treated equally and in accordance with the law. Now, more than ever, cities and counties are controlling how tenant applications are managed, especially in tenant friendly cities such as Seattle and San Francisco.
Another important piece of the vetting process is a tenant interview. Questions should be short and direct, but also open ended. An interview should be more of a conversation, one that probes deep enough to get a sense about the applicant, essentially working on risk mitigation and developing an understanding of what affect, if any, a new tenant will have on the property and community.
Finally, the tenant background check.
Being central to tenant screening overall, a tenant check is concerned primarily with quantitative data that will allow a landlord and/or property manager make a well informed decision about a perspective tenant.
From ForeignPolicy.org (Feb 02, 19)
The right tenant can be a joy. They pay on time, have a good relationship with neighbors, and keep your property in good shape. The wrong tenant, however, can be a nightmare. They may trash your place, put you behind with bills, or cause trouble for other tenants or neighbors. foreignpolicyi.org/why-checking-the-background-of-prospective-tenants-is-essential/
There are several public records and numerous verifications that would –prove highly beneficial to the tenant check. Key are Criminal History Reports, Consumer Credit Reports, and Eviction Records, to name a few. References could include personal and professional references, as well as previous landlord references.
Combined with an interview the tenant check allows a landlord to get a better understanding of the candidate. One of the most important aspects of this process is, as mentioned, risk mitigation. A landlord and/or property manager has a responsibility to the existing tenants, ownership of the property, and the community at large.
A tenant check is an inexpensive tool a landlord can use to get this important information. And utilizing a third-party tenant screening agency can provide great value insomuch with keeping landlords up-to-date with current and potential laws governing tenant screening, and helping these landlords stay fully compliant with law.
More and more landlords are coming under fire by new laws governing how key reports within a tenant check are utilized.
In Seattle, attempts are being made to quell homelessness via legislation. Changes to eviction laws could create challenges for landlords in the vetting process. seattletimes.com/seattle-news/politics/state-legislature-trying-to-tackle-homelessness-through-eviction-reform/
New laws affecting the tenant selection process are being considered and implemented across the country and the safest approach for landlords is to utilize a professional tenant screening agency to help with compliance and delivery of all essential data and reports necessary in making a sound and non-discriminatory decision on all prospective tenants.
Proper tenant screening of all leasing candidates is extremely important and is a critical tool in evaluating and confirming information provided by applicants. This valuable information provides the facts that landlords need in order to maintain a safe environment for existing tenants, protecting property, and the community at large. There is no short cut to professional tenant screening and as laws change regarding the tenant selection process it is best to be in compliance with the law and in the loop on potential new law.
To learn more about why it is so important to perform professional tenant screening on all prospective tenants prior to handing over the keys read recent TenantScreeningUSA.com press release: The Importance of Tenant Screening