Re: Privacy Concerns with Applications - Landlord Forum thread 321705

Re: Privacy Concerns with Applications by Andrea on July 23, 2014 @17:37

Thanks to all that responded to this post. I value your opinions. I am very thorough when it comes to screening and, from a landlord perspective, have no problems with the info requested on the app. Interestingly, if I were the applicant, however, I think I might draw the line at the actual account numbers for loans and bank accounts. Last year, I tried to verify the info given as to bank balances, etc and was told by the bank that they couldn't give out the information anyway.

I will continue on with this application and see how it goes. I think I'm pretty spoiled as my last tenants brought bank statements, W2, paycheck stubs and credit reports to the showing!! (Of course I did my own credit check, references etc too.) As for the applicant that wouldn't supply her credit/loan balances (under the guise of "you're running a credit check anyway" and "it's none of your business"), I politely explained that income is only half the story and that debt-to-income ratio is a better indicator of a tenant's ability to pay. Incredibly, she supposedly has a rental of her own with a deadbeat tenant in it. I also politely offered to release her from consideration since her application was incomplete. Even though she had a good landlord reference, I felt something was off with her. I haven't heard from her again and consider it a blessing.

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