Making sure that you as a landlord are aware of your tenant’s previous history will ensure that you make the right decision. Like a criminal background check for employment, a tenant background check will provide information like your tenant’s prior behavior, criminal history, and credit behavior. Here are the 4 main reasons why as a landlord you should request for a tenant background check.
To protect yourself – Instant background check online will give you valuable information that will highlight any areas of concern. For example, if your tenant has a history of shoplifting, there is a good chance he/she will steal from you or your neighbors.
Discourage tenants who are trying to hide something – When potential tenants know that you will conduct a background check and they want to hide something, they may refuse the authorization form or opt out of renting.
Verify application claims – If you ask your tenant to fill a rental form which includes their criminal history, you will be able to verify the information that they have provided. If they are honest about their criminal history from the start, this means that your tenant can be trusted to some degree.
Reduce tenant turnover – Tenant background checks will help you weed out potential tenants that are of low quality or those who will stay for a short time.