How Can You Legally Screen a Tenant?
Property Management comes with many responsibilities, and one of the most crucial is prevention. Preventing tenant-damages property and the incurred costs. Preventing vacant property because the tenant left without notice – and without pay. Preventing damages caused by pets in a no-pet zone. The list continues. The most effective prevention tool is investing the time and finances to pre-screen clients. It will save you both time and money in the end. A key factor is prescreening within legal boundaries.
Here are 7 steps to handle keep tenant screening legal
- Have the prospective tenant complete a rental application. Your state may allow you to charge an application fee which may cover the background and credit check.
- Make sure the form clearly states you will be performing a background check and criminal history report as you must have the person’s written
- Check all financial information such as bank records, income, and credit cards. It’s good to go back about 7-10 years to get a full financial picture, such as a burden of debt, and learn how the prospective tenant will have the ability to pay rent each month.
- Verify the prospective tenant’s income. You may want to request a recent pay stub since some employers don’t give out private information or salary histories.
- Always ask how many people will be living at the address. Include questions and applicable information about pets.
- It is possible to ask about habits such as smoking and friends who smoke or if the person works the night shift or odd hours.
- Contact and validate personal references.
Better yet – contract with a professional screening company, such as Data Screening – they will ascertain all aspects of screening are complete and legal, ultimately saving you cost and frustration.
About DataScreeening.com
Data Screening is a Certified Women’s Business Enterprise that has offered business-to-business employment and tenant screenings to human resource professionals and business owners, including staffing companies, for two decades. Among other organizations, they are members of the ASA (American Staffing Association), SHRM (Society for Human Resource Management) and the NAPBS (National Association of Professional Background Screeners).
First-Time Landlord? 5 Things You Must Know
Interested in being a landlord? Everyone starts in the same place, wanting to learn how to manage a property. With this in mind, it is smart to learn from experienced professionals who can teach you to avoid mistakes they have made, and fortunately for you, a lot of tenant property owners are willing to share where they went wrong.
- Your rental property is a business. Conducting good business means complying with all relevant laws to keep you and your tenants’ safe and secure. It also means keeping your investment in top shape to prevent problems before they occur. In fact, experts recommend setting up the property as a Limited Liability Company (LLC) to shield your personal assets and gain tax advantages.
- Document everything about your property. Whatever your property’s condition, take pictures and videos before renters move in, or tenants move out. Keep all receipts of repairs done because of tenant issues. Compare the information to assess for damages. A documented record also protects if you need to defend against a claim filed by a tenant.
- Set the right rental price. Research your locale to determine competitive rates for similar properties. Then compare those rental amounts to your fixed and variable expenses. You should know how monthly rental expenses will affect your monthly revenue.
- Have a network of reliable contractors who can complete repairs correctly and promptly. Having contractors that are both trustworthy and skilled to do the work you need is like having a treasure chest of gold. It gives you peace of mind that the property and tenants are in good hands.
- Implement a tenant screening process. It won’t matter what you do if your tenants don’t pay on time. Require a rental application that provides all pertinent information including details on previous rentals and references. Be specific about how many people will live in the rental and whether there are any pets (if you allow them). Include a credit check and background screening, too.
These are merely a few of the recommended steps to take when becoming a landlord. For accurate and effective screening, why not contact Data Screening. The firm has knowledgeable staff to help with legal aspects of tenant screening and questions.
About DataScreeening.com
Data Screening is a Certified Women’s Business Enterprise that has offered business-to-business employment and tenant screenings to human resource professionals and business owners, including staffing companies, for two decades. Among other organizations, they are members of the ASA (American Staffing Association), SHRM (Society for Human Resource Management) and the NAPBS (National Association of Professional Background Screeners).
Employers Should Know: Employment Screening for 2018
Keeping up with state regulations and background screening industry trends can be a daunting process for employers and HR professionals. While changes in laws may implement protections for those who are seeking work, employers must also be mindful of how they conduct hiring and screening processes to prevent discrimination and negligent hiring.
Here are some hiring trends and background check information employers need to know for this year.
Ban the Box
The Ban the Box policy was instituted to encourage employers to consider an applicant’s qualifications rather than take the chance of being prejudiced by his or her criminal history. The Ban the Box policy removes the question of criminal history from the employment applications, so all candidates have a fair chance at employment. To date, more than half the states in the U.S. have adopted the new law. California has put it into practice as of the first of this year, and other states are likely to follow this progress toward adoption nationwide.
Limited use of Credit Reports
Cities and states are battling laws to limit credit reports as consideration for employment arguing these prejudice the employer and are thus discriminatory. The caveat exists for applicants who will be making financial decisions, accessing financial records or handling money as the screening is directly applicable to their job. While only a handful of states have thus passed a law about credit reporting, projections say other states will follow suit.
Inquiries about Salary History
Several states have restricted employers from inquiring about previous salaries. The impetus behind this requirement is an effort to end the wage gap or gender discrimination. This law is also likely to continue a pattern of adoption across the nation.
Engaging the services of a reputable professional agency, such as Data Screening, ensures you as an employer will meet all federal, state and local laws as you determine the best candidates for your positions.
About DataScreeening.com
Data Screening is a Certified Women’s Business Enterprise that has offered business-to-business employment and tenant screenings to human resource professionals and business owners, including staffing companies, for two decades. Among other organizations, they are members of the ASA (American Staffing Association), SHRM (Society for Human Resource Management) and the NAPBS (National Association of Professional Background Screeners).