Renter Screening Warning Signs That Aren’t So Obvious
Whether you’re a landlord, property owner, or manage rental properties for clients, finding tenants is one of the most important tasks you’ll ever handle. That’s why it’s crucial not to skip the tenant screening process. Most landlords, though, only focus on three key things when they evaluate a tenant application: criminal record and credit history. That’s not always enough, though. Make sure a prospective tenant is the best fit for you. Here are some not-so obvious warning signs that you need to look out for.
Criminal Record
Carrying out a criminal background check is now easy with tenant screening application software. The point of that background check is to find out whether a prospective tenant has ever been involved in a case that destroyed or damaged a rental property or neighborhood. After all, not all criminal records should affect your decision. That’s why it’s essential that you find out if the criminal conviction is relevant. Will it put all your other tenants at risk?
Eviction History
Most people just look at the credit score or rating as well as the monthly income. Once both of those things check out, they’ll give the tenant the go-ahead. The tenant’s financial condition matters. But it isn’t the only consideration you should focus on. Be sure to check the tenant’s eviction history, too. Eviction is a time-consuming and expensive process. You wouldn’t want to be involved in one. If a previous tenant seems to have a bad eviction history, you might want to learn more about that report. An eviction report is part of the package you get from some tenant screening programs. That means it should be easy getting access to that information.
Skipping the Screening
Be wary of any tenant that asks you to skip the tenant screening process. Some tenants merely want to hurry the process along. That’s understandable. However, it could also be a sign that there’s information they don’t want you to find out until you’ve signed the contract. Don’t put your property at risk like that. Always go through the screening process to ensure your protection and peace of mind.
Giving a Credit Report
It might seem like something a good prospective tenant would do. They might offer you their own credit report to save you the time and trouble. But as a landlord or property manager, you need to know that the report might be out of date, edited, or inaccurate. It’s always best to run your own background check. Let prospective tenants know that’s your company policy.
Moving Too Often
A tenant who moves too often might present a risk, too. Before you decide, though, find out what’s behind their frequent moves. Does it have something to do with their work? If they keep moving because they have problems with their neighbors or landlords, that’s a bad sign. If they keep moving because of work, that means they might break the lease early. Be sure to require a fee for breaking the lease. Require a 30 days’ notice, too. That should be enough to discourage some tenants.
