Tenant Screening | Top resources available

[Nick Webb]

What has been the most helpful platform/service in your experience (asking the BP community) for screening potential tenants? 

I've conducted several formal interviews for my day job in the past so I feel that have a good grasp on how to decipher whether potential tenant is a "good person" but having a little more difficulty confirming 'hard information' like credit and criminal reports.

For example: I've received CreditKarma credit reports from potential tenants but found that it is quite difficult to confirm that the credit report provided is actually the credit report from the potential tenant (and not a fake credit report to make it seem they have a better credit score than what they actually have). I was hoping to use their SSN provided on the Rental Application (adequately disclosed) to confirm with the SSN provided for their credit report but seems that CreditKarma doesn't have this capability (they don't have a live customer service number to call and confirm info).  So currently I find that I'm exposing myself to quite the risk and as landlord.  

At the end of the day, I would like to ensure that 1) credit/criminal report is in fair standing and 2) the report provided is the report of the potential tenant. 

Any suggestions?
 

[Bjorn Ahlblad]

@Nick Webb It is called "Washington Landlord's Association" and is an independent group. They have lobbyists representing LL interests. Legal and forms support-notices and leases, BG and Credit reports. LL Training, networking etc. Membership is surprisingly cheap; between them and BP I really don't need anything else. There are LL groups of one kind or another in most markets, as well as the National Apartment Owners Association.