A staggering one in three Americans have a criminal record, according to the National Employment Law Project.
As a landlord in Atlanta, you might be wondering why anyone's criminal record should concern you. After all, as long as a renter can pay rent on time and use your property responsibly, what's there to care about?
Well, a renter's criminal history can affect their suitability as a tenant. Landlords in Georgia are allowed to conduct a tenant criminal background check. You shouldn't skip it.
Read on to learn the benefits of doing the check.
1. Reducing the Risk of Criminal Activity
If your rental property is being used for criminal activity, so many things can go wrong, and almost all of them will put you at a disadvantage.
For example, if a renter commits a felony on the property, such as a murder, the property can be cordoned off as a crime scene by law enforcement. How long the property will be out of bounds depends on the complexity of the case. Whether it takes days or months, your rental operations will be disrupted.
Plus, renting out a property that's been the scene of a ghastly crime can be challenging, as many prospective renters might not want to live there.
Although anybody can commit a crime, screening a renter's criminal history helps you reduce the risk of getting a tenant who may engage in criminal activity. Renters without a criminal record are great, but if someone has a history of being in and out of jail, that's a red flag.
2. Minimizing Evictions
Evictions are every landlord's biggest nightmare. The best case scenario is a tenant who's been served with an eviction notice leaves the property quickly without causing any trouble, and then the landlord has to embark on finding a new tenant. The worst-case scenario is the tenant ignores the notice or puts up a fight, causing the eviction process to drag on for months.
Either way, you'd rather do without evicting anyone. Conducting a criminal background check is one way to minimize the risk of eviction. A tenant who engages in criminal behavior will necessitate an eviction, so do your best to avoid getting tenants who will do just that.
3. Enhancing Community Safety
You are legally responsible for providing a safe and habitable environment for your tenant(s). If you have a multi-unit building, this involves ensuring everyone's safety.
Having a tenant who may harm others means the safety of the community is compromised. Conducting a criminal background check enables you to identify renters who might pose a threat to others, and keep them away from your property.
A Tenant Criminal Background Check Is Necessary
While fair housing laws prohibit discrimination of renters solely based on criminal history, landlords are allowed to perform a tenant criminal background check. As long as you're not violating any laws, the check needs to be part of a comprehensive tenant screening process.
At HNN Atlanta, we understand that screening tenants isn't an easy task for landlords. Our services are designed to enable you to take a hands-off approach to property management. Whether you need tenant screening, rent collection, or property maintenance, trust us to deliver.
Call us to schedule a free consultation.
