Background checks on all tennants or just the primary?

Question

Sorry if I'm reposting a question, I couldn't find the answer anywhere. Found tennants for my three BR home. Three unrelated people. Should I run a background check on all of them? And collect the background check fee from each of them? They will all be on the lease. Or should there be just one primary applicant with two co-applicants and only one background check? God I'm such a newbie!!!

Kyle J. · Answer

I have each adult applicant over 18 fill out an application and I do a background/credit check on each of them.

Anthony Wick · Answer

@Fred Krueger

In addition to what everybody said, I use SmartMove from BP website and have applicants pay the site directly. I collect zero money. I make zero money on applicants.

And, I also do a free prescreen application for employment and prior landlords, plus check state criminal website. Costs nothing to bounce applicants quickly if they don’t meet income requirements or can’t get a good reference from landlord.

Nathan Gesner · Answer

Always run the background check on every adult.

- Three friends

- Boyfriend/girlfriend

- Husband/wife

- Husband/wife/22-year-old son/92-year-old grandmother

Every adult, every time. The exception (for me) would be if the adult is somehow mentally incompetent and therefore a legal dependent.

Bob Woelfel · Answer

@Fred Krueger we run on anyone over 18.  All pay the fee and all are on the lease.

Cassi Justiz · Answer

For three unrelated people I make them all qualify individually. The income qualification can be considered as a group, but for background and credit check they all have to qualify individually.

I do a background check and credit check on every person over the age of 18. Every person over the age of 18 is put on the lease.

Your lease should also have the magical words "jointly and severally" included in there. Basically that means they will individually be held responsible for the terms and amount of the lease. This protects you from one roommate deciding to move out and the other roommates deciding they don't need to pay "that part" of the rent.

Fred Krueger · Answer

Thank you! The lease does contain the "magic words". You people are all so helpful. I hope I can return the favors some day.

Background checks on all tennants or just the primary?

Most Popular Reply