Guess how many people in the US have a criminal record. You might be thinking 1 in 20, but it's actually 1 in 3, or 77 million Americans, according to the National Conference of State Legislatures.
As a landlord, it can be disconcerting to imagine a criminal on your property. They pose a threat to your other tenants and open you up to liabilities. Is there any way you can prevent this situation from happening?
You can, with a tenant criminal background check. It's critical that you learn how to do them effectively to save yourself time and speed up application review. Today, we'll guide you through the criminal background screening process in Ewing, New Jersey.
A Tenant Criminal Background Check Requires Consent
Perhaps the most important part of a tenant criminal background check is written consent. Otherwise, you could be opening yourself up to legal trouble. It's a common mistake landlords make, so we recommend the following:
- Include the consent form in the rental application
- Give a full disclosure of the information gathered
- Include a privacy statement
Imagine that you are in the position of the tenant. How would you feel if a landlord didn't mention the background check, or what information it collected? Put yourself in their shoes as a helpful tool for deciding how to inform the tenant about rental application checks and the process.
Avoid Discrimination
Don't use a background check at random, or as you feel the need. Doing so could put you at risk of a discrimination lawsuit. Be sure to apply the same standards to everyone -- background checks and otherwise.
Use a Reputable Service
As a rule of thumb, you want to keep one good background check service on retainer for all rental applications. While searching for a service, keep the following in mind:
- How comprehensive their search is
- How fast their turnaround is
- How easy the process is
- Discounts for large sums of background checks
Look for a background check company that makes the tenant screening process as easy as possible. Waiting on checks, or having to send them back for errors, wastes time and money. Also, consider that you may need to hire property management if it's becoming too overwhelming.
Be Judicious About Application Rejections
Here is the most challenging part: deciding when to deny someone based on criminal background. Obviously, you don't want a repeat offender with a history of violence. But do you want to deny someone charged with possession when they were a teenager over a decade ago?
So, have a think about it before denying someone with a rap sheet. People change, and everyone has broken the law at some point. A good landlord is able to read between the lines and understand whether a particular criminal history actually affects renting ability.
Find Property Management Tips at PMI
A tenant criminal background check is a must to determine who you are letting into your property. Just to be sure you ask for consent, avoid discrimination, and use a service you can trust. Most importantly, be careful how you decide to accept or deny people.
PMI Essential of Ewing, NJ, treats your property with the care it deserves. Our wide range of residential services helps you collect rent, conduct background checks, and more with ease. Get a free rental analysis to find out how much you could be earning with us.
