At least verifying some major things like employment, criminal history, etc.Does anyone ask a tenant to complete an application before showing the unit?

Landlord could *indemnify* the poster that was on the internet telling them to do something, and the poster could be liable for ALL those damages that resulted from their faulty advice.Not to mention many states do, in fact, criminalize the act of unauthorized practice of law.

Her income was great, 4x rent, credit was fine and no criminal history.  

I am a little surprised how many people are totally fine with having a grandmother and three grand kids removed by the cops and slapped with a criminal charge.

Then the criminal and eviction reports definitely still need to be run on the tenant.To keep payments consistent and timely, insist on auto debit from their checking account, or ideally their parents checking account.  

This is my best tip for a first timer on selecting the best tenant: (copied this from my previous post)I used the tenant screening tool provided here on BP "smartmove" It provides a criminal background check, an eviction check and credit check.

Verify they are students in good standing and do background/criminal/credit checks, but only put the student on the lease.  

He finds Charlie who checks out well with Credit/criminal/background checks.

What if he is trying to hide a criminal background?

I just want to know she isn't a criminal with a history of evictions.