How to Conduct A Tenant Background Check On A Possible New Renter
Renting a home generates income, provided the home is in good repair and you have a tenant willing to pay his bills in a timely manner. However, the downside to being a landlord is that every tenant isn't always a good tenant. You may get some who not only don't take care of the home but refuse to pay rent as well. The best way to avoid this scenario is to screen tenants carefully before renting your property. A background check is among the most important steps in doing so.
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Instructions
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Ask the potential tenant to sign a permission form for a background check, including a credit history review. While you can search aspects of a tenant's history (such as claims made through your county's clerk of courts), you can learn a lot by whether the tenant is willing to give you permission to do the check. If he signs the paperwork and appears to have nothing to hide, there is a better chance he is a good candidate than a possible tenant who hedges on giving you permission to check his background.
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Look carefully at your tenant's credit report. Look for any evictions, foreclosures or bankruptcies. While you may still be willing to work with a tenant who has had some of these issues in the past, you need to protect yourself and your property. If you know about, say, an eviction, then perhaps you can ask for a larger security deposit or request that the rent be paid a month in advance.
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Conduct a criminal history background check through your local police or sheriff's office. Find out if your possible tenant has been convicted or accused of any crimes. You may want to immediately discount those convicted of violent felonies, particularly if they are recent. Determine what level of criminal history you are comfortable with in a renter.
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Comb through the clerk of court database for your county. See what kind of litigation the potential tenant may have pending against him. Some things, like a small claims dispute, may not be an issue for you, but if he has a pending eviction against him that doesn't show up on his credit report yet, you should see it in this database.
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Request references and check them thoroughly. If you want a clear idea of a tenant's background, ask for a professional, personal and credit reference. Ask specific questions that get at the heart of the potential tenant's character, judgment and ability to honor financial commitments.
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