Must you do a background/credit check?

[James Erickson]

Must a landlord perform background/credit checks on prospective tenants? I use the standard Texas Apartment Association application and on there it does ask about their background but I'm sure many people lie about it. I guess I'm concerned about my liability if a background check is not done.

[Marcia Maynard]

Must you protect your investment? Must you protect yourself from dangerous criminals, protect your property from damage, protect yourself from "professional tenants", protect your community from drug dealers and meth labs, protect your hard earned cash, protect yourself from liability suits, protect your family? No. But you would be foolish not to.

Let me tell you about the rapist that applied to rent one of our properties, was very charismatic, good looking and polite. He lied during the screening interview and lied on his application. He didn't think I would do such a thorough background check. His previous landlord hadn't bothered to. I read the gruesome details of the police report... 24 year old guys luring 14 year old girls back to their apartment and gang raping them. No thank you. Not in my properties, not on my watch!

Due diligence and through background checks are a necessity in this business.