Don't Ignore the Background Checks

Chelsea Carl • Feb 12, 2020

Background Checks Are Essential

A landlord in San Diego needs to remember the substantial investment made in his or her properties. These are meant to be sources of revenue and trustworthy tenants are essential. Trying to fill a vacancy quickly can be the first step on the road to disaster.

This is because some tenants have problems that don’t appear on the surface. There may have been issues at a former residence, or the individual has problems paying rent. Landlords in San Diego must be willing to do a background check to protect their investment.

What to Look for in Background Checks

A proper background check is not a simple telephone call. There are several things that the landlord should be looking for when considering a candidate.

The Credit Report: This reveals whether the individual is financially reliable. Fiscal matters such as counsel for collection, bankruptcy, and evidence of not paying rent and surface in these reports.

Proof of Income: This also checks a person’s ability to pay the rent. It can be investment reports or even pay stubs that identify an individual having the ability to meet the monthly rent obligations.

Apartment History: Were there problems in their earlier places of residence? Did past landlords have trouble with this person? Requesting references from prior landlords is a way to assess if a person is going to be able to meet the terms of the lease, and not be a problem in the neighborhood.

Landlords Beware!

A landlord must be very careful in doing any background check. States have various laws governing the examination of an individual’s past. For example, a landlord in California does not have the right to deny a convicted sex offender based on the offense alone. The Fair Housing Act also must be strictly followed.

Discriminatory behavior can cause a series of legal problems for any landlord in San Diego. No one wants to have a record of being an unfair landlord, because that reputation will undermine the profitability of the apartments.

One challenge for property owners is time. Doing the proper background check can be a lengthy process for someone who does not quite know what to do. It makes more sense to have one of the property management companies in San Diego assume the responsibilities of the background check. Alta Vista Properties is a property management company in San Diego that does a complete and professional job of checking on a prospective tenant.

We Have Considerable Experience

We have been in the property management business for decades, and we do background checks on a routine basis. We know what to look for and how to get the required information. We strictly adhere to all the rules and regulations prohibiting discriminatory housing. We are cautious with the background check and the information we gather is strictly confidential. It is not meant to be gossip in the neighborhood.

Our experience permits us to do an efficient background check quickly. We are proud of the fact that we have been able to screen out bad prospects, and our tenants have proven to be as good as the background check we did. We work to maintain a good relationship with all our tenants, and we see to it that the properties we manage will provide steady cash flows to our clients. Our clients appreciate that through the background check process we are able to place tenants that are respectful and responsible.

Please do inquire at any time about our property management services. We can be reached at 858-274-3600 or by email at info@altavistaproperties.net. We look forward to hearing from you and answering your questions.

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