You've been burned by bad tenants before. Some of this has to do with bad screening on your part. In particular, you've performed no or poor background checks.
So you're wondering: what do you look for in a Georgia tenant criminal background check? There are a number of characteristics to seek out and we're going to discuss them below. Here's how to choose the right criminal background check for tenant screening purposes.
Criminal History
Perhaps the most important thing to look for is the tenant's criminal history. Ideally, your chosen tenant won't have a criminal history at all. However, just about everyone has committed some level of crime at some point. The important thing is that the crimes committed are not too severe and not too recent.
For instance, you might consider denying anyone who has a felony on their record. On the other hand, you might only deny those who have a felony within the last 5 years.
In the end, the choice is up to you. Just be sure to look through the tenant's entire criminal history before deciding.
Rental History
Another hugely important thing to consider is rental history. If a prospective tenant has a spotty rental history, such as a history with a few evictions, they might not be a safe bet.
You should also find out whether the prospective tenant was involved in any lawsuits featuring a rental property.
Credit History
You should also look at the prospective tenant's credit history. If they have bad credit, it might be because they don't pay bills on time. If they don't pay bills on time, they might not pay their rent on time either.
You can obtain credit reports for anyone. So make sure you do so before selecting a final tenant.
Employment History
In order for a tenant to reliably pay rent, they need more than just a saved sum of cash. They need to have a steady income. This is why it's vital for you to review their employment history prior to approving their application.
If they just recently got a job after a long stretch of being unemployed, they might not be a safe bet. If they've consistently held jobs over a stretch of many years, they're an extremely safe bet.
Terrorist Status
This one's a stretch, but you never quite know who you're dealing with. As such, you should strongly consider ensuring that your prospective tenant isn't on a terrorist watchlist.
Need Help Finding the Right Georgia Tenant Criminal Background Check?
As you can see, there are a number of things to consider when searching for a reputable Georgia tenant criminal background check. Nonetheless, as long as you make these considerations, you should be able to find a quality background check to help you find good tenants.
Need help with tenant management and the tenant screening process? If so, we here at PMI Georgia are the ones to see. We're the premier property management company in the Atlanta area, and we're well-versed in the process of tenant screening.
Contact us today to get the process started!
