Due to inflation and the rising cost of property, more people are looking to rental properties for housing. Approximately 35% of Americans are living in rental units.
With so many people looking for rental properties, it is important that landlords and property managers can sift through applicants to find the best tenants. The best way to find long-term tenants is to conduct a background check. Keep reading to learn what is a tenant background check and its many benefits.
What is a Tenant Background Check?
A landlord or property manager often does a rental background check on prospective tenants to ascertain whether they are a good fit for the rental property. During this background check, the landlord will review prospective tenants' credit scores, rental history, eviction records, and criminal records. This information is helpful for landlords in finding tenants that will be a good fit for their properties.
Prioritize Community Safety
Fellow residents will rest easy knowing that all of their neighbors have been thoroughly vetted. This is increasingly important if the majority of your tenants are families who are fearful for their children.
Background checks contribute to the safety of your neighborhood. Your reputation in the neighborhood might be ruined by a dangerous or hostile tenant.
Reduce Tenant Turnover
When you screen a tenant you can view their rental history. By browsing this information, you can see how long they have typically stayed at a particular property and if they routinely paid their rent.
If a prospective tenant moves around a lot for work, it may not be the best opportunity for a long-term resident. Many rental properties are looking for long-term tenants that they can count on for a constant flow of rental income.
Liability
By learning how to screen tenants, you can protect yourself and property owners from liability. As a landlord, you can be held liable for your tenant's actions if you fail to do your due diligence and run a criminal background check.
The denial of an application on the basis of race, sex, color, or national origin is prohibited by fair housing rules. Applications can be rejected if they have a criminal record. However, you will need to demonstrate that a background check was the primary reason for denying a housing candidate.
Check Financial Stability
Tenant background checks allow you to look into a potential renter's credit score and financial history. An excellent indicator of someone's financial responsibility is their renter's credit score.
Although you don't need to know about their credit card usage, their score will show that they can make on-time rent payments. This foresight gives you peace of mind that a tenant will pay their bills on time.
Tenants with a history of late payments, evictions, and poor credit are more likely to default on their rent. If your tenants fail to pay bills, you could put an uncomfortable financial situation.
Protect Your Property with a Tenant Background Check
Conducting a tenant background check is essential for a successful property. Tenant background checks are an effective way to protect your property and renters.
If you are interested in renting out your property, make screening prospective tenants a priority. Contact us at the Home River Group for all of your Dallas property management needs.
