Background and credit checks on new tenants (apartment complex, tenant, eviction)

[xz2y]

I live in SE Michigan and recently read in our local newspaper about an individual arrested for murdering a woman who was living in the same apartment complex as the suspected murderer. They used DNA evidence to finally arrest him four months after the murder.

At any rate, he moved out shortly after the murder (told the LL he was "afraid" to live there). He then rented another apartment in a complex in a neighboring town, where I live. This was his residence when they arrested him this week. Both of these apartment complexes are nice places. How the heck was this creep able to rent an apartment in these complexes? I know they both have rental applications that run credit checks and ask re: verifying income. The second complex is not cheap and the rents start at $950. I'm just wondering how guys like this are able to rent apartments? It's very scary for those of us who are renters and live in nice complexes, only to learn that a tenant is arrested for a murder!!!! Not to mention that a murder happened in the complex!!! What's going on with these management companies and screening tenants????

[Paula Lynn]

Where I live, you cannot randomly choose who you want to do a back ground check on. If you run one, you need to do everyone, and that can be expensive. I run credit, eviction checks, check past landlord/rental history, ask for paycheck stubs, etc. It's a roll of the dice, but if you are a "seasoned" manager, red flags do show up.

[findingmesomeday]

That is upsetting! However, if his credit checked out and he had no convictions, I doubt a credit/background check would have showed anything. The applications ask about "convictions" not "arrests" (innocent until proven guilty!).

It can happen anywhere. A few years ago, a co-worker of mine was arrested and convicted for a murder that happened 18 years previous. He was a high level executive with advanced degrees from prestigious universities. I thought back to all business trips, meetings, off-sites, etc. and wondered 'wow, did any of us really know this guy?'

It was so stupendous that several networks did a segment on it.

[revelated]

You can't base a person's potential future actions based on past historical records.

In other words, people snap. All it takes is the right igniter to send them over the deep end, and any man/woman/child is capable of the worst.

As a matter of fact, you'd probably have a higher chance of someone snapping and committing murder that did not have a previous record than someone who has a record, because chances are if they've been to jail and got out, or went through programs they've probably done at least some rehab or self-discovery and are just looking for a second chance. Not saying all are like that - some are beyond rehab - but a lot are.

[pitt_transplant]

The mngmt company I am with now screens employees only. They own a lot of property. A girl was stabbed to death here recently by a fellow tenant that didnt have a history (not my building but some other building/mngmt company)

There was another incident in a downtown highrise place that units start at 900ish.
A worker killed a tenant. They only found out when people started complaining of the smell.

Most people are killed by someone they know. Safety is an illusion.

[rlrl]

federal and state credit reporting have laws that sometimes prohibit reporting of convictions past a certain time period or beneath a certain salary threshold. i think california for instance has a law that prohibits reporting past 7 years. in such cases records may not be reported.

[lizard49]

In New York, where I live, it's perfectly OK to do background, credit, employment, and criminal history checks. But all prospective tenants must be treated equally in this regard; and these checks must be done before you rent the property to the tenant. In other words, it is not cool to rent someone an apartment & then decide to run credit & background checks.

Murder? Happens in the best of families ... have you read any Agatha Christie novels?

[ShaneSA]

Years ago, I rented an apartment to Jeffrey Dahmer. He was in the military and looked nice and pleasant. Never a problem with rent or complaints from neighbors.
I'm still debating about digging in the yard. I'm scared to plant anything. Point is, he was nice and passed all the tests. Who knew???????

[overtaxedunderpaided]

Originally Posted by ShaneSA

Years ago, I rented an apartment to Jeffrey Dahmer. He was in the military and looked nice and pleasant. Never a problem with rent or complaints from neighbors.
I'm still debating about digging in the yard. I'm scared to plant anything. Point is, he was nice and passed all the tests. Who knew???????

Wow! Worse case scenerio.........i hope you informed the cops. If any remains were to be found at least you would bring some peace of mind to the relatives left behind

[texdav]

Where I live many including public housing requires that the tenant applying tuen in a criminal history they obtain from the police det as part of teh paperwork. Anyone can request this on themselves for a small fee/. It's juist like waht many things require like federal licensing of boat captains for years. They can easily do a credit check. I would think that liabilty makes this more and more common with landlords who are being sued more for security of their tenants.