What Kind of Background Checks Do Landlords Do?
As part of applying for a rental property, the prospective tenant agrees to certain kinds of background checks. Most often these checks involve inquiries into the tenant's financial history, but other checks may take place as well.
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Financial
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A prospective tenant usually has to provide some kind of information on their application about their financial status--whether they have a job, where they've worked and what their credit histories reveal--are common checks landlords do.
Employment
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Employment history questions allow landlords to call an applicant's boss, or former boss, to confirm they are employed.
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Credit
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Credit checks can only be done if the applicant explicitly permits the landlord to inquire into their credit report.
Criminal
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Inquiries with local, state or federal law enforcement agencies are common background checks landlords perform. Looking up sex offender registries and checking the applicant's information against those and other court records is also common.
Prior Landlords
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A tenant's past history with other landlords is also a common check. Prospective landlords will typically call past landlords and ask about the tenant and any problems the landlord may have experienced.
Google
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When looking up a person's information is a few key strokes away, Google searches can provide landlords with information quickly and easily.
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