Prospective tennant screening - Landlord Forum thread

Prospective tennant screening by RJ on March 3, 2012 @22:12

I have a couple who I have run a background and credit check on. The tennant disclosed he had a felony on his record from 6 yrs ago but it did not show up from a service called lanlord station. #1 how far back might those checks do and should I be worried about criminal check info if its not violent crime. My first impressions were good of these folks. Seems they can afford it, decent credit, timeline is good, all else seems ok.

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Re: Prospective tennant screening by Anonymous on March 3, 2012 @22:39	[ Reply ]

There are all kinds of felonies. Which one was his and where did it happen? Did you check with his former landlord AND the one before that, AND the one BEFORE that? Is the debt to income ratio good? Can they afford first, last, and security deposit? What about the other parts of their background check? What is their credit score? Did you check out BOTH people (you said "a couple") as thoroughly as possible? I'd venture to guess your Landlord Station service is happy to take your money and to a cursory check. I'd suggest you get a new screening service.

Re: Prospective tenant screening

Prospective teNant screening (Only 1 N in Tenant) by Dave Snotnose MF'r on March 3, 2012 @23:11	[ Reply ]

I am glad he admitted up front that he had a felony on his record. He most likely told you because he know you would run a check and it would be better if he headed you off at the pass before you found out on your own. Since he's being so sharing and open and honest, what does he say the felony was for. Some criminal reports - court records don't always list the actual original offense. Sometimes you even have to go all the way back to the arrest report. I once had a guy who admitted to being a child molester. I thought, "Oh how nice1 He is being open and hoest with me!" Did I accept him as a tenant next door to my little kids? FU@# NO!!! (Any of you politically correct goofballs think I was illegally discriminating- go scratch! )

Re: Prospective tenant

Re: Prospective tennant screening by Wilton (IL) on March 3, 2012 @23:16	[ Reply ]

Your the man Dave!!!

Re: Prospective tennant screening by Anonymous on March 4, 2012 @09:49	[ Reply ]

I think Eric uses this line........... If this guy is OK to you what does a bad prospect look like? You rent to a criminal you will live to pay big time for your mistake. Been there done that. We are trying to save you a huge amount of money and perhaps even your own personal safety. The guy did drugs..........and what kind of nice people are the dealers he buys from? or his friends that will come over to get high.

Re: Prospective tennant screening

Re: Prospective tennant screening by Anonymous on March 4, 2012 @18:23	[ Reply ]

RJ, I don't think anyone mentioned this tidbit. National crime databases are inaccurate, only cover partial states out of the 50, and are not updated, in a word, unreliable. The best way to check crime records is find the guys addresses for the last 10 years. Check the county crime database for each county he lived in each year during that time. I bet you that his felony will show up on the county database where he was six years ago. My local county charges $2.00 per look up, so make sure you collect a decent application fee; I charge $50.00 per person.