Avoiding nightmare tenants shouldn't be too hard, right?
With a tenant criminal background check, housing providers can determine if an applicant is a safe and reliable tenant. However, if you're a landlord in Virginia, you can't just exclude anyone with a criminal record from renting your property. You must follow certain guidelines to avoid violating the federal Fair Housing Act.
Once you understand the laws of Virginia regarding tenant screenings, your duties as a landlord don't stop there. Here's how to improve your tenant screening process to make fair decisions.
Consistency Is Key to Avoid Discrimination Claims
When selecting tenants in Richmond, Virginia, ensure your background check criteria are consistent. Always get written consent from potential tenants before conducting a criminal background check.
Remember that applicants can dispute errors on a tenant background check report. A consistent tenant screening process lowers the risk of applicants claiming discrimination.
That's why working with a reputable property management company is worth considering. Besides reviewing an applicant's criminal history, they'll also check financial and rental histories. This helps them secure the right tenants for their clients.
Tenant Criminal Background Check: Getting the Basics Right
Let's say you're holding off on working with a property management company. You don't feel any stress, and attracting tenants in Richmond, VA, hasn't been a problem so far.
If this is your current situation, then you only need to review your tenant background check process. First, verify the applicant's identity by checking their government-issued ID. Then, confirm their social security number.
Next, check if the applicant can afford the rent. Verify their source of income by getting in touch with their employer. You should also look into their credit score, eviction records (if there are any), previous address tenant history, etc.
As for an applicant's possible criminal background, you can ask for previous landlord verification. You can also use resources like the National Criminal Search. Additionally, check the National Sex Offender Search and the International Terrorism Database Search.
Steps to Ensure Fairness in Tenant Screening
The most important thing is to treat all applicants, regardless of race, religion, sex, disability, and other factors, the same.
To avoid disputes, however, you need to be documenting all communications with applicants. If you have to reject an application, don't forget to notify the applicant and be transparent. Explain your tenant screening process and criteria, and then provide them with a copy of the background check results.
Now, if the whole tenant screening becomes too much for you to handle, you can always outsource this task to professionals. Not only will you comply with legal requirements, but you'll also reduce costs. Property management companies have software and systems that streamline this process.
Evaluating the Effectiveness of Your Tenant Screening Process
As a landlord in Richmond, VA, you know that a tenant criminal background check is vital to protect your investment.
If you need help with tenant screening, PMI Richmond can help. We go beyond checking applicants' criminal history to ensure you get the right tenants for your property.
Contact us today to learn more about our state-of-the-art technology and how we serve our landlord clients.
