Do you background check people before they look at your rental?

Question

Someone i talked to said there's no way they'd let someone in their property without a background check.

I see no way this is financially feasible or time feasible.

I would assume you background check anyone you're going to get into a lease with.

Is this typically done by a management company?

If not, how do most people do this?

What does it cost?

What are you typically willing to accept regarding credit score? What other criteria are you looking at in doing a background check?

James Wise · Answer

Prior to letting them move into the property yes you absolutely MUST perform a background check. We charge all of our tenants a $40 application fee.

If you attempt to charge this prior to letting them inside the home when they just want to look at it you will be shooting yourself in the foot.

I am all for landlords creating some small hurdles for tenants to avoid the time wasters but that is to large of a hurdle. You will turn off far to many quality tenants that think you are being ridiculous.

Some acceptable hurdles would be a paid application after they see the property and some pre screening question prior to them seeing the property.

Susan M. · Answer

A full background check before just viewing the property, no, we don't. We do however make them complete a "pre-application" including their first, middle and last name, phone number and email. I then check social media, google, etc for information on them before deciding whether to waste my time showing them the property. You can find plenty of information yourself, publicly, without going through a full background check at this stage of the game.

Do you background check people before they look at your rental?

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