Screening tenants?

[Patrick Donovan]

So i got an email from a prospective tenant last night and when i googled his name the only one that pops up in the state of IL, which is where his phone number is from, is a man who was just charged with a felony last month. What are my options on asking to find out if this is him or not? I know i can ask if he has ever been convicted of one but if he lies and says no, what wuestions can i ask to find out?

[Stephen White]

Hey, @Patrick Donovan I agree with both responses. And Aly is absolutely correct that a common name can create a lot of confusion since records are now housed by name and not SSN in Illinois (and most other states now). 

You need a background check that can confirm the records. One issue that you'll run into is that since the charges were only from a month ago, there is a good possibility that there is no disposition yet. In other words, he may not have been convicted of the charges yet. In which case, it really depends on the nature of the arrest and charges that will determine how you'll handle this. 

Let me know if you have any questions once you get your hands on a report, or if you need direction on getting a report, and I'll try to help however I can.