Why Tenant Screening Is a Must for Landlords

Take a guess how many Americans have a criminal record. The answer can be quite shocking to some. Over 70 million Americans have some form of crime on record, or about one in three people.

As you screen rental applications, it's very difficult to know who you're truly dealing with. Someone may appear to be a good, upstanding person on the surface, but have some deep, dark secrets that should concern you. For this reason, tenant screening is essential for all landlords.

The tenant screening process can do more than just determine if a potential tenant is a criminal. Keep reading as we discuss why it is essential for you to get background checks for all of your new applicants.

TENANT SCREENING CAN ENSURE THAT THEY WILL PAY THEIR RENT

The only way you can know if a tenant will make the rent is by having an idea of their finances. If they are unable to pay their rent, that doesn't just mean a disruption in your ROI. It may force you to deal with a legally messy and very costly eviction.

The tenant screening process allows you to find out if your tenant has been able to keep a regular job. It can tell you if they have a history of credit card debt or other financial troubles. If you discover that your tenant cannot keep up with payments, you save yourself from a lot of headaches.

IT CAN PROTECT YOUR OTHER TENANTS

As you are managing background checks, you may already realize that not all crimes should disqualify someone. If they have a minor traffic violation, then there is likely no good reason to exclude them from tenant selection. But what if they are a registered sex offender?

You owe it to other tenants to protect them from dangerous people. Otherwise, you could suffer legal ramifications down the line. However, there are tenant screening laws that may protect tenants from discrimination.

IT CAN TELL YOU ABOUT THEIR PREVIOUS BEHAVIOR WHEN RENTING

Suppose the background checks revealed that they are in good financial standing and have no crimes. But there may be more that you should be concerned about. For example, your tenant may have a history of evictions and property damage.

If they haven't gotten along with previous landlords, that is something that you want to know about. Anyone who might damage your property is not someone you want living there.

MANAGE YOUR RENTAL WITH VERANDAH PROPERTIES

Every landlord's dream is to have golden tenants that stay for years, pay the rent on time, and treat the property well. If you are struggling to get a proper read on your tenants, then you should consider tenant screening. It reveals far more than just their criminal history, such as any financial difficulties or poor previous behavior.