Tenant Screening Resources Available Based On Past Landlord Feedback?

Question

Who knows, this may not be possible, though wondering if there is an online resource or dialog available to help vet potential tenants though direct landlord experience reporting. For example, if you have a tenant prospect, is there an online resource where a past landlord may have noted a prospect as a "bad apple?"

Kind of like an "Angie's List" for prospective rental tenants?

Will Porter · Answer

In a way you're already doing this by running credit history and background checks. It's not exactly what you're looking for, but the information in your due diligence should tell you a lot about what type of tenant the prospect will be.

But let's step back and think about this from afar: You can have review sites for businesses because the business is intentionally placing itself into public discourse -- I don't think you can really say the same for tenants. The concept is interesting, but having a hidden landlord-only blacklist seems really shady. Imagine if you were on the other side of the table...

Also think about the credit bureaus, and how much of a hassle it is for people to correct errors on their credit reports. Even with three main agencies, there is still misinformation and confusion that can ruin a person's access to credit. How would tenants ensure that only truthful info is posted about them? Who would regulate/control this thing?

Kimberly H. · Answer

NTN has one. It's not illegal because you can share info on both good and bad tenants. They say it would be illegal if it was just for bad ones.

Matthew Paul · Answer

When I contact another landlord about a tenant I ask them 1 question only .   Would you rent to this tenant again ?   yes or no

Richard C. · Answer

There is a reason so many employers will now only release something like, "Yes, he worked here during that time period."

It would be very, very dangerous for a landlord to participate in what is being described.

How would you validate that what the landlord was saying is true?  Would you give the prospective tenants the right to respond?  To challenge material misrepresentations of fact?

Not to mention that any organized system like this would probably fall under fair debt collection and credit reporting laws.

Bill Bell · Answer

Indeed, the slander risk may exist if an open dialog is present; however, if the data is based on metrics rather than dialog, it may work?  Also, it would require a localized/granular attribute, though perhaps if a more global system was developed, members could check localities based perhaps on a prospective tenant's past residence(s) listing.  Perhaps a US county by county breakdown would work.

As for the metrics collected, perhaps a 1 - 5 ranking system could be employed based on a core set of tenant qualities where a registered landlord could enter a tenant listing (if not currently exists), and then fill in a ranking dialog for that tenant based on the fixed qualities matrix.  Other landlords who may host the same tenant could include their ranking as well.  Through these metrics, a pattern may show of tenant "rentability" which would focus more on landlord rental experience with the tenant, as compared to standard background check sources which may miss key attributes specific to landlord interests.

Thoughts?

Richard Ball · Answer

I have thought about this for my local REI group, I would see no legal reason why you could not have a Whitelist, Blacklist and Grey list database that each landlord could contribute too. Say you have to pay someone to leave without actually going through an eviction, you would simply email the REI group board members and let them know the tenants name and reason for being added to the list. The board members would then add them to the Grey list. Should multiple landlord contact the board about an individual the Tenant(s) would then be added to the Blacklist to let other landlords know. Same could be done for great tenants. I have a tenant that is currently looking for a smaller house, I don't currently have anything available but I am looking around for them. I could simply call the board and get them added to the Whitelist letting other local Landlords know I recommend them. Should something happen they could be removed from the Whitelist, should another incident occur they could be added to the Grey list and should multiple incidents occur, they could be Blacklisted. Problems would occur with people with the same names but may be re-mediated with an actual background check showing that individual never lived at that location. I would love to hear feedback on this idea whether good or bad, other possible problems and things that could improve this system. Thanks!

Eddie T. · Answer

I am not a lawyer but something like that would probably be illegal. You would be at risk of slander, in my opinion.

Maybe some attorneys on this site could weigh in.