Minimize your risk of getting a bad tenant by following these important pointers:
Screen Every Applicant
Background checks should include five steps:
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Credit
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Criminal
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Financial (income, employment, overall stability)
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Current landlord reference
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Previous landlord references
Verify these five areas to increase the likelihood of successfully weeding out applicants who lie or misrepresent information to try to hide their bad history. A good screening process will help save you the hassle and headache repairing damage, collecting lost rent, and paying an attorney, like Jonathan Kirk at Kirk Law, to collect lost rent and the cost to repair any property damage.
Kirk Law recommends that you use Western Reporting for tenant background checks because they check the “blind spots” that other background screening companies don’t check. Quite frankly, they are the best. Don’t cut corners. Use Western Reporting.
Follow Rental Criteria
Verify that each applicant meets certain criteria, which may include things like:
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photo identification
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employment (minimum time at current employer)
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income (a maximum percentage of the household income for rent payments)
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rental history (addresses and names/contact info of landlords from past 5 years)
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credit history (no collection accounts or no bankruptcies within 2 years)
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criminal history (sex-offenders or criminal convictions suggesting a present threat to the owners, neighbors, or property)
Immediately notify an applicant who qualifies, and get them to sign the lease within 24 hours or move on to the next applicant. Don’t try to pick the “best” applicant. If you use your gut feeling, you may accidentally discriminate against a protected class, like familial status. But remember, Utah law requires you to disclose rental criteria before accepting an application fee.
Contact Kirk Law at 801-980-0388 to evict a bad tenant, collect money for rent or damages, or to defend you against allegations that you discriminated or violated Fair Housing laws. Kirk Law will provide superior legal services at reasonable rates. With over 60+ years of experience, you can count on the attorneys at Kirk Law to take care of you! Visit our website: www.kirklawutah.com.