Tenant Screening Issue

[Tosha Revere]

Short story:

I have an application that I'm processing. The tenants said no when asked if they had any evictions. After running them through smart move one appeared. when I asked them about it he said he thought it was removed because he had paid it.  Can evictions be removed from one's background?

Long Story:

I'm a newbie and currently screening a potential tenant. The last 3 addresses they provide show they have been living with different family members.  3 family/friends in the last 2-3 years.  Neither one listed an address for an eviction that showed up on the credit/background check and there were several other addresses on it they didn't list either.  When asked on the application if they had any prior evictions, the response was no.   I have no evictions stated in the quals.  I don't know much about evictions to understand details on the smart move report or what the courts website provides.  I inquired with the management company and they basically showed me what was on the public records.  Case type is unlawful detainer.  They had the judgement on July 2015, writ in Dec 2016 and they moved out Feb 2016.  Sounds like they paid their debt of $308 when they moved.  I haven't heard back but I did respond to the management company asking the reason for the eviction.

1-Can an eviction ever be removed from someone's record if they have fully paid up whatever money owed?  He said he thought it was removed from the record which is why I ask.

2- the last 2-3 years has been living with family and friends and either no rent or no tangible proof of rent payments can be provided.  There are 4 or 5 other address listings on the smart move report that they never listed and all were with in the last 5 years.  Some for only 3-6 months at a time.  This is the second thing that makes me uncomfortable.  Is this a reasonable red flag?

Other info:

Credit/background shows some missed child support payments and a lot of traffic violations around the same time(2015-2018).  To his credit, He (the man/dad/fiance) has had a decent job for a year and I've verified he averages 3x rent in gross income.  I have many references to vouch for his work ethic.  He is a car sales person and I have found many online reviews that are 5 star for his service.    The mom I have almost no reference for other than the family they have stayed with.  It sounds like they have both have been delt a sour hand and took longer to start growing up.  His family member was telling me this.  She had a lot of history she provided and then at the end told me that she is his aunt and I she knows he has worked hard and is very proud of him.  She also followed that saying she is probably a little biased and that this home is my business and I should treat it as such.  

I apologize if this is put up in such a random fashion.  I'm new to this and find myself grappling with a decision.  I am leaning toward no.  I really would like to be more experienced in this but with one property, experience will take a long time.  Thanks for your feedback.

Our home is a nice one and a very good neighborhood with very desirable schools. while I would love to help the family if they are truly on the right track to getting to a better place I'm just not sure that I am comfortable with taking the risk.

[Tosha Revere]

I appreciate all the confirmation even tho it seemed clear to everyone.  I have only done this once before and I know I need to stick with my process but sometimes I let my heart make me want to look deeper.  I need to let my husband so the talking and I do all the fact checking.