As the old saying goes, "A good start is half the work." As a landlord, being successful often begins with finding the perfect tenants-those who make your job easy rather than challenging. Ensuring you have reliable, trustworthy tenants can significantly impact your property's upkeep and your peace of mind.
One crucial step in achieving this is conducting a thorough tenant criminal background check. This process helps you identify potential risks and make informed decisions, protecting both your investment and the safety of your property.
In this blog post, our expert team will highlight what you should know about tenant screening and why tenant verification is such a crucial first step for all landlords.
Why Conduct a Tenant Criminal Background Check?
In a nutshell, performing a criminal background check on potential tenants is essential for safeguarding the safety and security of your property and other tenants.
Knowing a tenant's criminal history helps you avoid individuals with a history of violent crimes. This can be crucial for the safety of your other tenants and neighbors.
Tenants with a history of financial crimes, such as fraud or theft, could pose a risk to your property and rental income. Additionally, different regions require landlords to conduct background checks to comply with local laws and regulations.
What to Look for?
When you conduct a criminal background check, you should look for specific types of criminal history. It is essential to check for serious offenses like felonies, as well as repeated misdemeanors which may indicate a pattern of behavior.
You should focus on recent criminal activity, typically within the last seven to ten years, as older offenses may be less relevant. Consider also the type of crime as, for example, non-violent offenses might be less of a concern compared to violent crimes or drug-related offenses.
If you find something that is a cause for concern, it's better to take a safety-first approach and look at another applicant. Taking the time to find the very best tenants for your property is worth it, as it can save you trouble down the line, such as the need to file evictions.
Partnering with a Property Management Company
For many landlords, the process of conducting background checks can be overwhelming.
As such, it's recommended that you partner with a property management company, such as Performance Asset Management in Milwaukee, that offers professional tenant screening services, including criminal background checks.
We can handle the time-consuming aspects of tenant screening, allowing you to focus on other responsibilities of being a landlord.
The Importance of Safe Rental Practices
The bottom line is that conducting a tenant criminal background check is a vital part of the overall screening process as a landlord. It helps you protect your property, other tenants, and your financial interests.
If you're looking to complete the criminal background check process here in Milwaukee, our team at Performance Asset Management is here to help. We have 15 years of experience assisting landlords like you with a wide range of rental property tasks.
Contact our friendly team today to learn more about how we can assist you.
