When you’re selecting tenants to occupy your rental units, it’s a given that you want to make sure you’re finding the best match for your property. That’s why many landlords choose to do extensive tenant screening for background checks, credit scores, eviction history, criminal history, and more. It’s important to know who’s going to be living on your property so you can hopefully avoid any incidents. This is why it’s important to make sure you know as much detail as possible about every person who will be living in the unit.
Why Should You Screen your Tenants?
Screening a single occupant for the unit may seem to make sense. If that person checks out, you can likely assume the family members, partner, or roommates living with them will follow suit. This is a dangerous assumption to make. You may only be interested in the person responsible for paying rent, but you should still consider whether the other occupants of the unit have a history of eviction or criminality. You may even want details about their credit in the event that the person primarily responsible for the rent loses employment, has unexpected expenses, or otherwise has to lean on another occupant for that month’s costs.
Even if you’re not concerned about rent, it’s always good to know if a tenant has an eviction or criminal history you should be aware of. Nonpayment isn’t the only damage to your investment that could occur — you may also have to deal with noise complaints, property damage, or drug use. Even if one tenant seems perfect on paper, they may be rooming with someone who isn’t. It’s best to protect yourself and your property and screen all tenants of a rental unit.
Tenant Screening Paid by the Tenant
If you’re concerned about the cost, most screening costs are paid by the prospective tenant when they submit an application. Have each tenant pay for an individual screening. If you’re concerned that the cost may be prohibitive for some prospective tenants, there are less pricy options available that still give you a well-rounded picture.
One such option is our RentalConnect program, which offers property owners and landlords a great alternative to the expense of full tenant screening. This tenant screening service requires no on-site visit, sign-up, or membership fees, making it extra convenient. The service fee is paid by the applicant. Available 24/7, RentalConnect is fast, easy, secure, and delivers reports needed to make an informed decision, including a credit report, a national criminal search, and a national eviction search. Reach out to us for more details!
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