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Background/credit check is really a huge indicator for me if they are going to pay their rent, but even though I have a set standard for each renter, I also take each one on a case by case basis. I tend to research the person even before they fill out the application to see what I can find and to see if they lie to me in any way, based on what I already know.
Background/credit check is really a huge indicator for me if they are going to pay their rent, but even though I have a set standard for each renter, I also take each one on a case by case basis. I tend to research the person even before they fill out the application to see what I can find and to see if they lie to me in any way, based on what I already know.
You investigate them before they even apply? Whew, nothing like living on the edge. Of a Fair Housing complaint!
Does the credit report say that they really lived at that address for all those years? Does the family own the house?
What is their credit score? How about their employment record? Stable? Sufficient income? Criminal background check is clean? No evictions filed with the county?
I've been known to go to the applicant's current address and knock on neighbor's doors. I do that if the call is really close and I can't decide, or if I have a bad feeling and can't find anything legal to reject. It's amazing what you can find out from neighbors.
I don;t think I have ever had a well qualified applicant that had only lived with family. I have had many well qualified applicants that were moving from a house that they owned and were living with family there. But each case gets screened fresh.
You investigate them before they even apply? Whew, nothing like living on the edge. Of a Fair Housing complaint!
There is no Fair Housing complaint there if the landlord is looking at public records. Sometimes you learn a lot just by googling their name, or looking at their face book page. That is all open for public viewing, nothing illegal about looking at it.
There is no Fair Housing complaint there if the landlord is looking at public records. Sometimes you learn a lot just by googling their name, or looking at their face book page. That is all open for public viewing, nothing illegal about looking at it.
Exactly! You would be surprised what you learn from Facebook..lol...or mugshots.com.
So without going into much detail, I am trying to find a renter for my condo and I have one application where the person has rented - but from family members for the past 10 years. The person is currently living with a sister and sharing the rent. Assuming everything else checks out - would this be a red flag to you? Thoughts that go through my head are: Why are you in your 40's and have been living with family members for the past 10 years? How am I going to verify your rental history when your sister could easily lie? I know everyone has a "story" but am I being paranoid?
I would not rent to a person who does not have a rental history. One of my requirements is an established rental history. What does the rest of the application look like? How long has he been working? credit history? I would look for patters of consistency.
Your best protection against an iffy tenant prospect is a larger security deposit. Verify that your state has no limits on the size of the deposit, some states do.
What I find interesting and I think the landlords on here are correct to look at past rental history, but I have only 1 or 2 times had my rental history verified. I have relocated a lot because I move out of state. I rent in nice places even in the past in country clubs. They just run my credit and background. This has been both private owners, with realtors, and major communities. I write down my past rental history but like I said 1 or 2 times they have called to verify. Same with employment or references. Always confused me.
If I had a property I would be verifying everything. In my opinion better to take the time now then in the future have more problems and lose money.
Well it looks like everything has checked out...Credit score was decent -credit wasn't perfect, but there was an established pattern of paying bills for the last several years. No evictions, no bankruptcies, no criminal record. Got pay stubs with established work history.
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some people care more about their car then their rental obligation.
