How to Find a Landlord When You Know the Address

Property records are public and searchable.

Finding a landowner from a dwellings' address is relatively simple. In fact, in a few clicks of your mouse, you should be able to access the landowner's name. Property records are considered public. If the property is in a county that does not have it's records online, the same steps can be taken in person at the County Assessor's Office. Property records are public.

Things You'll Need

• Property address
• County assessor website
• OR
• County Assessor office

Instructions

Online Search

1. 

   Many assessor offices are online.

   Use an online search engine, to find your local assessor's office. Simply type in your county name and "assessor office." Adding a ".gov" will narrow your results and assure you get to the right page.

2. Locate the "property search" option. Property search should be a heading on the page or a click-able category on the side bar. Property searches are a major function of the assessor's office and links to property searches are often prominent on the page.

3. Navigate to the property search page. Chose the "search by address" option. This will be an option on the page. The typical three options are "name," "assessor's parcel number" and "property address."

4. Open the results page. The landowner will be listed on the page. The most likely field is "owner name."

Physical Search

1. 

   Property records are available at the Assessor's Office.

   Locate your local County Assessor's Office. The County Assessor's Office can be found in the blue government pages of your telephone directory.

2. Go to your local assessor's office. If there are not signs directing the visitor to property records, ask at the Information Desk.

3. Perform a search by the property's address. There will either be a binder or microfiche. The owner's name will be listed as prt of the property record.

Tips & Warnings

• The www.propertyassessmentdirectory.com website lists all county assessment offices that are online and provides a direct link.

• Online sites charge fees to perform property searches. Property searches are free and fees are unnecessary.

References

• San Luis Obispo County Assessor's Office
• Privacy Rights Clearinghouse: Government Records and Your Privacy
• Property Assessment Directory: Listing of All County Assessor's Offices in the U.S.

Resources

• FedWorld: A program of the U.S. Department of Commerce