In order to prevent damage to your property or avoid a month's unpaid rent, it is crucial to get a tenant screening done to prevent any such catastrophes. A legal tenant screening report will ensure that you're renting your property to someone who has a clean background, is financially responsible, and who will treat your space respectfully. Read on for the 4 things that should always be included in a tenant screening. 1. Eviction History A tenant that has a history of evictions means that there have been serious problems with previous landlords. They either did not pay their rent on time, did not follow the landlord's rules, or inflicted damage on the property. County and federal databases contain information on evictions, although it can take a lot of time for a property owner to obtain this information on their own. That is why many choose to outsource their background checks to a tenant screening service.

2. Criminal History A tenant screening will be able to tell you whether your potential renter has been convicted of any crimes. Databases from state, federal, and county sources are combined into one convenient report. You will also have access to sex offender lists, court records, prison history, most wanted lists, and more, so that you can make the most educated decision possible. Make sure the screening includes records from the past seven years, so that you can get as much information as possible.

3. Credit History Being able to see the credit history of a potential tenant will be extremely helpful in making a smart decision towards renting out your space. A thorough credit history will give you information about the tenant in regards to financial liens, payment history, accounts in collections, debt to income ratio, FICO credit score, and more. It can be hard to acquire this information on your own or even with a basic credit history report, but a tenant screening report service will help you attain all the necessary information about credit history to make an informed decision.

4. Employment History Most landlords start their tenant screening process with a renter's application. This is a pretty standard format and will ask the tenant for personal references, as well as their rental and employment history. This is an important step because a landlord will need to know that their employment position is in fact legitimate, and that they have a strong financial standing. By reviewing their place and type of employment, you can determine whether they'll be able to realistically afford the rent each month.

Acquiring a tenant screening on a potential renter is critical to your business and well-being as a landlord. You want to make sure you are making the best decision possible and are renting your most valuable asset to a responsible, financially able, and trustworthy person. There are many ways to obtain this necessary information outlined above, but a tenant screening through a professional service is the most accurate, comprehensive, and easiest way to go.

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