All Forum Posts by: Raj Balakrishnan

@Raj Balakrishnan

Pretty much every county and every state has its own computerized public records system. It pays to start learning how to use these systems, so you can conduct your own eviction searches and local criminal checks before run national checks on people. What the national paid checks run by credit agencies are really good for is credit histories. Housing and criminal histories are not really their strong suits.

Raj,

It's indeed concerning to hear about the issues you're facing with tenant verification. Here are a few steps you can take to improve the reliability of your tenant screening process:

1. Don't rely on a single tenant verification service. Cross-reference information from multiple reputable sources to ensure accuracy.

2. Meeting potential tenants in person can give you a better sense of their character and reliability. Ask questions about their rental history, employment, and reasons for moving.

3. Instead of just accepting pay stubs or income statements, contact the employer directly to verify employment status and income.

4. Call previous landlords to get a sense of the applicant’s rental history. Ask about their behavior as tenants, payment history, and any issues that arose during their tenancy.

5. In addition to nationwide checks, conduct local criminal background checks for more detailed information. Some local offenses might not appear on nationwide databases.

6. Consider hiring a professional tenant screening service that offers more in-depth checks, including eviction history, credit reports, and criminal background checks.

7. Look for inconsistencies in the information provided on the application and during the interview process. Any discrepancies could be a red flag.

8. Ensure all your screening practices comply with Fair Housing Laws and other legal guidelines to avoid potential legal issues.

Improving your tenant verification process can help you find more reliable tenants and protect your investment. If you continue to face issues, consulting with a property management company or legal advisor might also be beneficial.

Best of luck with your rental properties!

Seth

Quote from @Raj Balakrishnan:

Not all criminal record are public knowledge. Some counties and states do not publish criminal information so you have to go to every county to search.

If there are any red flags, I will conduct a Google search of the individual's name and the city/state they've lived in according to their application and their credit report. That sometimes catches people via a news story or law enforcement site.

Question: if their felony arrests are disclosed, why are you still looking into them?

Few applicants familiar with county and state mandates pushed by local politicians are likely to voluntarily disclose information about convictions, felony arrests, or bankruptcies. This is why landlords, especially mom-and-pop landlords, need a reliable way to vet applicants in risky markets like Baltimore.