All Forum Posts by: Cindy B.

@Cindy B.

How do you do a background check without their social???

Tenant must submit to credit, criminal, and background check to live in my properties.

Tenant applicant refuses to provide SSN, then they cannot continue with the application process. 

Quote from @Julie Hartman:

@Cindy B. If your rental is in Denver, I would strongly encourage you to stop using Zillow to screen your applicants. The laws have changed and if you get a section 8 prospect (which you must accept), landlords are not permitted to do a credit check on them. Zillow and other large screeners are not able to piece-meal the background screening information to keep landlords in compliance. With that said, I agree with the others that if they don't want thier SSN collected, then I would send them down the road. 

This comment makes it sound like everyone has to accept every section 8 tenant now, which is not true. Source of income is now a protected status in the fair housing act, meaning you can’t deny because the applicant plans to use housing vouchers to pay rent, but that doesn’t mean you have to rent to them. You can still deny them for other (legal) reasons that they don’t meet your criteria, or go with a more qualified applicant instead. Also many landlords are exempt from the source of income rule such as if you’re self managing/ not using a broker, live in the property, have less than 5 rentals, etc. People should know the law and whether or not it even applies to them before jumping to conclusions. 

I think its reasonable of them to be very wary of you having their social security number for "extra protection". It might provide it for you, but it definitely heightens their risk and identity theft is a growing concern. Have you provided to them how you plan to safeguard that information? Do you use VPN for your communications with sensitive data? Whats your security software? If you weren't you would you think your data was secure?

If they asked you for your social security number for extra protection if something goes wrong how comfortable would you be with them having that info?

They didn't balk at the background check, so it doesn't feel like a red flag, necessarily. There are better options than zillow. And I think the new standard is the third party check without providing SS # independent landlords.

Did you verify the self employment and the income to your satisfaction? Are there references? 
All this said, even the #$Ying cable companies demand your social :) Don't rent to them if you feel uncomfortable but this would probably happen again.

@Cindy B.

I'd move on. They are setting the tone for future transactions. I don't need that kind of grief. Move on to folks that will comply to my requests and requirements.

@Cindy B.

I'd move on. They are setting the tone for future transactions. I don't need that kind of grief. Move on to folks that will comply to my requests and requirements.

@Cindy B.

How else can you run background check?

Also if they won't give you required info find a other qualified tenant.

@Cindy B. If your rental is in Denver, I would strongly encourage you to stop using Zillow to screen your applicants. The laws have changed and if you get a section 8 prospect (which you must accept), landlords are not permitted to do a credit check on them. Zillow and other large screeners are not able to piece-meal the background screening information to keep landlords in compliance. With that said, I agree with the others that if they don't want thier SSN collected, then I would send them down the road. 

Thanks for sharing that

Quote from @Cindy B.:

Hi, I have been managing our own rental properties. Recently I have had an experience I am struggling with:

we have 3 unrelated parties who currently live together to apply, -- one of the applicants who only lived with the other 2 for 6 month together (she).

On the application current job she stated who she works for, how much she makes and what her job title is. By the time I requested pay stubs, she send in her unemployment pay history. I also found inconsistent and  misrepresenting info on her debt ratio. Under normal circumstances, we would just denied her application and move on. But the other 2 applicants seems to have decent track records and credit score.

Shall I take them as equals on the Lease? Or give the other 2 the opportunity to apply and deny her only as applicant? Or shall I deny them all?

I know the final decision is ours, but I wanted to hear what other landlord have to say if they are in the situation.

Thank you in advance!

Hard no. Birds of a feather flock together. People who are lying to you (or scamming you) right from the start when they are (or at least should be) on their best behavior, are going to be more of the same if/when you rent to them. If you try to reject one but keep the others, guess who is going to be moving in a few weeks later?  The only way I would consider the remaining 2 was if they found an alternate who met the criteria (i.e. there would not be an empty bedroom for the one you "rejected").

There was a time when I very briefly considered not rejecting low-level, one time felons, but anyone who lied about it was automatically disqualified...  If you are desperate enough to consider renting to people who are already lying to you, you probably need to lower your asking price to attract more applicants. 

Websites like Zillow are not always accurate and can easily be manipulated to tell you what whatever score they want. I trusted only Zillow before and got some scammer who used my property as a brothel / casino.

Not trusting you enough to provide SSN number is a red flag.