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The Uniform Residential Landlord and Tenant Act (URLTA) was established in 1972 and is intended to provide quality standards and to spell out the rights and responsibilities related to housing for both landlords and tenants. In most instances, a lease is used as a written agreement of the complete terms and obligations assumed by each party. A tenant screening background check is an integral part of owning and renting property, and one which all landlords should take seriousl

Many people believe that owning their own house is fundamental in building the life that they’ve always wanted for themselves. However, owning property and being strapped down to a mortgage ties up your income and limits your flexibility, i.e. moving to a different city or state. The recent economic downturn in the US has prompted many Americans to look for an alternative to home ownership: renting. And people began to look for rental properties. Many landlords have realized

A housekeeper is an essential asset to any home these days, especially for working parents with children. It could be because you hate housekeeping, are busy or simply need a housekeeper for a dinner party. Whatever the reason, it is important to pick the right housekeeper to avoid letting a criminal or sociopath into your home. One of the ways in which a housekeeper can be found is through a referral service. A team of professional and dedicated individuals is required to a

Whether you’re a new landlord or have a long history of working with rental properties, choosing from a large pool of prospective tenants can be a daunting task. Thankfully, there is a process for choosing a tenant which works nearly 100% of the time. Initial Application and Screening Process Before you start your search, make a list of requirements to show applicants when they make an inquiry. This may include items like a general background check, credit screening, employ

In some instances, long-term ownership of property is not ideal. Some individuals move frequently. Furthermore, not everyone is able to secure a loan from a financial institution to purchase his own property. In these scenarios, people resort to paying for temporary possession and use of a dwelling. This may be an entire piece of property, such as a house, or part of a property such as an apartment unit. Prior to establishing tenancy, screening of prospective tenants is high

Some think being a landlord is an easy occupation to carry, but there’s a lot more that goes into it than getting someone into your rental property: You must make sure that you also cover yourself, for your own safety. As a landlord you are gathering quite a bit of information for a potential tenant. You want to do a tenant screening, background check, and many other things to ensure that everything checks out. What you must realize, however, is your potential tenant and man

A competitive edge can mean anything that an individual or organization does better when weighed against their competitors. In the rental market, the optimal goal is keeping the property rented and receiving a return on the investment. Rental property that lingers on the market vacant is costing the landlord money. Even without the rental income, the property still requires care, marketing costs continue to rise, property taxes are still due, and a myriad of other expenses m

Rental property owners and potential tenants are in an industry that uses tenant screening protocols, background check services and credit reports. These important documents help to detect tenants who do not pay on time, tenants who may damage rental units that they occupy, and renters who do not stay the full length of their leases. Finding a good tenant for a rental property is important, since most property owners are paying for property mortgages, taxes and insurance cos

It seems that millions of people search the Internet daily, looking for a job, information or a place to live. Social media has become the number one marketing tool for businesses across the globe, including the real estate market. Landlords are using social media networking sites to attract desirable tenants. Prospective landlords like yourself can benefit greatly from online social media networking when you post rental properties on social media sites. More and more busin

The potential tenant seems very likable. Like a nice and respectable working guy who will not give any landlord like yourself problems. You’d be happy to lease to him, right…? However, don’t we all put our best foot forward when trying to give a good impression? Tenant screening takes more than a one-on-one with your applicant. It needs a more tedious yet practical approach that will benefit you in the long run. The Value of Reference ChecksDoing tenant background checks, o

Landlords get plenty of requests from their tenants that can be fulfilled in a reasonable amount of time to the satisfaction of all parties involved. But if you have ever been asked to write a reference letter, you know the great reluctance that can overwhelm you due to not knowing everything that your letter should contain. Before you allow thoughts of that letter to consume your day, there are tips you should keep in mind. These tips will guide you through the entire lette

When a prospective new landlord seeks a reference on an old landlord’s past tenant, the referring former landlord must always give a fair and honest report on the tenant in question. The reporting landlord must remain cognizant of the various points of import to landlords in general when rendering the report on the individual tenant. Keeping in mind the fundamental points which make a good tenant is important; a report that the former tenant was “nice” does not describe her

If you are a landlord with a house or apartment to rent, you must be very careful in terms of who you select as a tenant. If an applicant claims that he is a first time renter, don’t take that claim at face value. You’ll have to do some work in order to determine if renting your property out to him is a prudent decision. What to Require of a First Time Renter While a first time renter won’t be able to provide references from past landlords, he should be able to provide the

Credit reports are a useful tool for landlords in the process of tenant screening. You are allowed to evaluate a tenant’s ability to make regular payments on his rent, and how well he has handled similar situations before. You can find the following information in a credit report: . This includes name, address, and employment history, though this information is not used in credit scoring. Instead, it is used to make sure that the user of the credit report (you) is looking a

One of the more common trends these days when doing a background check in many situations is to check the social media account of those who may become your tenants. People have questioned if doing this as a background check is an invasion of privacy, and on the surface, it could appear that way. But when it’s your property at stake, it is a rather logical idea. Seldom is a Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, or even MySpace account kept to a professional level and, as a result, yo

When it comes to bringing in new tenants, a background check has become almost mandatory for landlords. You want tenants you don’t feel you have to be concerned about on many levels. However, you should also take care in how far you delve into the lives of prospective tenants so as not to discriminate or violate privacy rights and laws. Having a family background check done can reveal issues that may lead to problems in the future. Someone in a family with a severe criminal b

You got some great news today. You have earned a promotion. But there is some bad news, and that is you have to relocate to another part of the country. That means you have to look for a new place to live in. Unfortunately, your current property owner does not like you very much. Can he tell any potential property owners negative things about you? The question that you should ask yourself: Have you disclosed all of the information that your previous manager may say about you

When it becomes necessary to perform a tenant credit check, using a professional service is the best route to take. Having someone who is a professional in this area can find the overall dependability of a prospective tenant, which can save you time and future headaches. By checking an applicant’s background, which includes his credit report, previous employment, and prior rental history, a landlord or property manager can find the best candidate, which can save time and cost

Tenant background checks do differ, and moreso from state to state. There are state-specific laws pertaining to privacy that limit the amount of free information you can get off a particular state’s website.This also goes for information you are required to buy. It is not always true that you get what you pay for in this arena of personal information on a prospective tenant. Why would a landlord feel the need to do a tenant background check on a prospective tenant? In this

Background checks are a good idea for anyone renting out property because you really never know who may be trying to rent from you. The world unfortunately is not always a wholesome and safe place, as much as we would like it to be. Many people rent homes with the notion already in mind to sell drugs from it, use it as a flophouse, or worse. A rigorous tenant screening process, including a background check, is an easy way to rule out potential problem tenants before it’s too