Performing the right type of renter verification is vital if you're a landlord in the Dunedin, FL area. Executing a tenant criminal background check is just one important part of a bigger process.
If you're interested in renting your property to prospective tenants, it's vital to understand the ins and outs of the tenant screening process.
Read on to learn more about how we screen rental applicants, most notably, the criminal background check.
Why Background Checks for Renters Are Important
Performing a tenant criminal background check not only protects your investment but also protects your other tenants. When you run a criminal background check, you're able to gain insight into a prospective tenant's criminal history.
You want to be sure that new tenants are law-abiding citizens who aren't a threat to their fellow renters. It also ensures that you maintain property safety and the safety of people living there. Prospective tenants with a clean criminal record check are less likely to commit a crime and will maintain peace and a safe living environment.
What's Involved in a Tenant Criminal Background Check
Background checks for renters may vary depending on the service you use. For example, if you use our property management company, we'll run several different checks including a National Criminal Search, a National Sex Offender Search, and an International Terrorism Database Search.
It's important to note that criminal checks only look into convictions. Therefore, if a person was not convicted of a crime, the initial crime will likely not show up on their record.
All tenant applications and screenings should always be processed without regard to race, color, sex, religion, handicap, familial status, or national origin. This ensures that you are following Fair Housing Guidelines.
Tenant Reference Checks
Of course, you'll also need to verify every prospective tenant's income, employment, and credit. However, landlord reference checks also provide great insight into a person's history regarding their prior rental experience.
These reference checks verify the applicant's prior residence and landlord to find out whether or not they paid on time. Pay careful attention to anything their prior landlord says regarding payment timeliness, cleanliness, and the tenant's behavior. This simple landlord check also helps you identify potential red flags, like if an applicant were to provide a fake address.
A verified employment, credit, income, and landlord check is a smart way to ensure you're finding the best possible tenants. This process also ensures that you're renting your property to reliable, trustworthy people you can count on to pay the rent each month.
Don't Skip This Valuable Step
From credit and employment to the tenant criminal background check, each step is vital to ensuring a thorough screening process. Using an experienced, professional property management company can ensure this process goes smoothly for each application you receive.
The team at PMI Palms is the leading property management company for your property in Dunedin, Florida. If you're ready to find out how we can help you get the most from your rental experience, contact us today!
