Do you find it challenging to find good tenants in the Washington DC area?
You're not alone. This is one of the biggest issues most rental property owners run into. After all, it can be difficult to judge potential tenants before having them sign a lease. So, what can you do to make the tenant screening process more effective?
The key is to perform a tenant criminal background check before renting to an applicant. But why is a criminal background check so important?
Here we take a look at background checks, especially for a Washington DC landlord. Keep reading to learn more.
What Is a Criminal Background Check?
Let's start with the basics. Many types of businesses use criminal background checks as a way of avoiding the wrong type of people or to reduce the risk of potential problems down the line. This includes employers, landlords, banks, and credit agencies, just to name a few.
Criminal record checks help identify specific things like past arrests and convictions. As a rental property owner, a criminal history can help you steer clear of someone who might end up damaging your property, creating a dangerous environment for other tenants, and refusing to pay their rent.
It Helps Protect Your Property
It's no secret that people can be unpredictable. Thus it's important to have as much information about the people that will be living in your rental units.
Keep in mind that individuals with a history of violent, destructive, or shady behavior could end up costing you a lot of money if they happen to cause any type of damage to their apartment.
It Helps Keep Your Other Tenants Safe
Damage to your property shouldn't be your only reason to run a background check on applicants. Criminal record checks also help keep your current tenants safe by avoiding people who could potentially pose a threat or attract another criminal to your property.
It Helps Ensure Rent Gets Paid On Time
You want to attract tenants who will always pay their rent on time, right? Well, hiring a property management company is one of the best ways to ensure that every tenant is honest and responsible. That's because a professional Washington DC landlord understands the importance of properly screening every single applicant wanting to live on your property.
It Helps Reduce Potential Legal Battles
When you rent to the wrong type of tenant, you could find yourself facing long-term legal battles if they cause damage, refuse to pay rent, or sue you for any reason. The best way to avoid this type of situation is to avoid bad tenants.
The Benefits of a Tenant Criminal Background Check
There's no question that owning rental property is a great way to generate passive income. Fortunately, this guide to the benefit of running a tenant criminal background check on every applicant will help make the experience of being a landlord as stress-free as possible.
Please contact us today to schedule an appointment with one of our property management specialists.
