A vital part of tenant screening requires more than learning about applicants, their employment and credit history-it's learning everything you can about their previous rental history. Yes, former landlords who have rented to this tenant before have a wealth of information which should be weighed carefully before you approve an application.
Think about it. For six months or six years, former landlords have received or not received payments from your applicant. They know how the tenant left the property and about any complaints made when they leased it. Their file and recollection can provide you with more insight than you'll find by calling employers or ordering a credit report.
Start with the end in mind and weed out any applicants who might not treat your property with a gentle, kind, and caring hand. Was their former landlord impressed with the condition and cleanliness of the property when the tenant moved out? Or were they overwhelmed and disappointed with the lack of attention and personal consideration they showed by leaving the unit a mess?
Screening former landlords can reveal much more, though, and the information you gain is worthy of your time. Does the tenant have a history of short-term housing, indicating problems with payment or other terms of the lease? Was the tenant a nuisance to other tenants? Did the tenant honestly disclose past information to previous landlords, and did that information hold true?
I should note here that all applicants are not Honest Abe. Dishonest applicants know that telling the truth on applications could hurt their chances of being accepted-as it very well should. So, they come prepared, armed with a list of references, addresses and phone numbers-of imposters. I've seen cases where tenants provide false names or contact information for previous landlords, steering potential landlords to friends or family members who agree to aid and abet them in their quest for housing. For that reason, you might want to ask more specific questions-like how many units do you have, please verify the applicant's social security number so I know we are talking about the same person, and can I have the name and address of another tenant so I can ask them for a written reference for this tenant.
By asking more questions, you'll be able to do a better job of determining whether this landlord is legitimate-or not. In addition, be aware of legitimate landlords who will tell you exactly what you want to hear because they will do anything, including lie about a tenant's past, just to get rid of them. So, suffice it to say that while screening should include interviewing former landlords, it should be considered just one piece of the whole and weighed accordingly.
The American Apartment Owners Association www.aaoa.com recommends landlords ask these questions when talking with the current or previous landlord:
1. What was the tenant's payment history?
2. Did the tenant give sufficient notice according to the lease?
3. Did the tenant fulfill all of the terms of the lease?
4. Did the tenant give a reason for moving?
5. Were there any complaints from neighbors about the tenant?
6. Would you rent to this tenant again?
Most landlords stick together, understanding the difficulties and headaches caused by bad tenants. If you're lucky enough to contact one who is willing to honestly divulge information, you're a step ahead of the game. Their glimpse into the tenant's past can play a vital role in helping you to determine whether a tenant will pay their rent on time, fulfill the terms of their lease, and take proper care of your property.
It is worth the extra effort to screen applicants, and just as important to screen their former landlords. When you do, you can save yourself a lot of time, effort, money, and elbow grease when you part ways.
Bill Gray
Yes you may report this previous tenant, if you have a signed lease and can document what you are owed. Collection accounts may stay reported to the credit bureaus for up to seven years. So any debt less than seven years old may be reported. However, I do not recommend reporting debt that is over six years old, because there just is not enough time left for the ding on the debtors credit report to motivate him or her to pay you.
Although the tenant may owe you rent from months before he moved out, I advise landlords to use the move out date when determining the age of the debt.
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If your tenant moved out of your rental unit and owes you money, use the hammer the best collection agencies use. Report the debt your tenant owes to Experian, Equifax, and TransUnion. Collection agencies report debt to the credit bureaus to motivate the previous tenant to pay the money they owe. Reporting debt to the credit bureaus help collection agencies collect debt.
Your tenant may owe you money for past rent, damages, legal fees, etc. High unemployment in Los Angeles is causing more tenants to leave their rental unit owing the landlord high sums of money. Once your previous tenant gets back on his or her feet, they will work to improve their credit rating. If the money they owe you is not reported on their credit report, you most likely will not get paid.
This credit bureau reporting service, reports to all three major credit bureaus, those previous tenants who left your rental property owing a balance. The tenant debt is reported to Experian, Equifax and TransUnion for up seven years, and will remain on their credit report unless the debt is finally paid off or the landlord closes the account.
Seven years is a long time for your previous tenant to live with the mark on their credit report, because of the balance he or she owes you. Every time your previous tenant applies for credit to find another place to rent, obtain a mortgage, buy a car or any other type of credit, they will have to explain why they owe their previous landlord money.
Your tenant in Los Angeles most likely has found another place to rent for now, but he or she will not live there forever. Eventually the tenant will apply to another landlord for a rental. When that landlord orders a credit report for the tenant, the money you are owed will be front and center for the new landlord to see. Many landlords refuse to rent to a tenant, who owes another landlord money.
This service is available online, is easy to use and is very affordable. For less than the price of lunch, you will greatly increase your chances of collecting the debt you are owed, by reporting the debt to the credit bureaus -- just as any other creditor would do.
Most likely you are not the only one your tenant owes in Los Angeles. The previous tenant probably owes other bills such as utility companies, credit cards, and cell phone companies. These other creditors will all report the debts they are owed to the credit bureaus to get their money. You should use the same tools to collect the money your tenant owes.
Begin reporting tenants who owe you money to the credit bureaus now.
If your tenant moved out of your rental unit and owes you money, use the hammer the best collection agencies use. Report the debt your tenant owes to Experian, Equifax, and TransUnion. Collection agencies report debt to the credit bureaus to motivate the previous tenant to pay the money they owe. Reporting debt to the credit bureaus help collection agencies collect debt.
Your tenant may owe you money for past rent, damages, legal fees, etc. High unemployment in Newark is causing more tenants to leave their rental unit owing the landlord high sums of money. Once your previous tenant gets back on his or her feet, they will work to improve their credit rating. If the money they owe you is not reported on their credit report, you most likely will not get paid.
This credit bureau reporting service, reports to all three major credit bureaus, those previous tenants who left your rental property owing a balance. The tenant debt is reported to Experian, Equifax and TransUnion for up seven years, and will remain on their credit report unless the debt is finally paid off or the landlord closes the account.
Seven years is a long time for your previous tenant to live with the mark on their credit report, because of the balance he or she owes you. Every time your previous tenant applies for credit to find another place to rent, obtain a mortgage, buy a car or any other type of credit, they will have to explain why they owe their previous landlord money.
Your tenant most likely has found another place in Newark to rent for now, but he or she will not live there forever. Eventually the tenant will apply to another landlord for a rental. When that landlord orders a credit report for the tenant, the money you are owed will be front and center for the new landlord to see. Many landlords refuse to rent to a tenant, who owes another landlord money.
This service is available online, is easy to use and is very affordable. For less than the price of lunch, you will greatly increase your chances of collecting the debt you are owed, by reporting the debt to the credit bureaus -- just as any other creditor would do.
Most likely you are not the only one your tenant owes in Newark. The previous tenant probably owes other bills such as utility companies, credit cards, and cell phone companies. These other creditors will all report the debts they are owed to the credit bureaus to get their money. You should use the same tools to collect the money your tenant owes.
Begin reporting tenants who owe you money to the credit bureaus now.
If your tenant moved out of your rental unit and owes you money, use the hammer the best collection agencies use. Report the debt your tenant owes to Experian, Equifax, and TransUnion. Collection agencies report debt to the credit bureaus to motivate the previous tenant to pay the money they owe. Reporting debt to the credit bureaus help collection agencies collect debt.
Your tenant may owe you money for past rent, damages, legal fees, etc. High unemployment in Pensacola is causing more tenants to leave their rental unit owing the landlord high sums of money. Once your previous tenant gets back on his or her feet, they will work to improve their credit rating. If the money they owe you is not reported on their credit report, you most likely will not get paid.
This credit bureau reporting service, reports to all three major credit bureaus, those previous tenants who left your rental property owing a balance. The tenant debt is reported to Experian, Equifax and TransUnion for up seven years, and will remain on their credit report unless the debt is finally paid off or the landlord closes the account.
Seven years is a long time for your previous tenant to live with the mark on their credit report, because of the balance he or she owes you. Every time your previous tenant applies for credit to find another place to rent, obtain a mortgage, buy a car or any other type of credit, they will have to explain why they owe their previous landlord money.
Your tenant most likely has found another place in Pensacola to rent for now, but he or she will not live there forever. Eventually the tenant will apply to another landlord for a rental. When that landlord orders a credit report for the tenant, the money you are owed will be front and center for the new landlord to see. Many landlords refuse to rent to a tenant, who owes another landlord money.
This service is available online, is easy to use and is very affordable. For less than the price of lunch, you will greatly increase your chances of collecting the debt you are owed, by reporting the debt to the credit bureaus -- just as any other creditor would do.
Most likely you are not the only one your tenant owes in Pensacola. The previous tenant probably owes other bills such as utility companies, credit cards, and cell phone companies. These other creditors will all report the debts they are owed to the credit bureaus to get their money. You should use the same tools to collect the money your tenant owes.
Begin reporting tenants who owe you money to the credit bureaus now.
My primary market shows New York, but I work with landlords and property managers literally all over the country.
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