Landlord Question and Answer Forum

I want to revamp my lease application process and make sure I do official background/credit checks on serious applicants. What is the best way to do this when a fee is involved? Should it be considered refundable? Or non-refundable to weed out the riff raff? I considered calling it refundable after one year's tenancy with no problems or is that just opening a can of worms best left alone? Should I split the cost with the tenant? TIA

Notify all that there are two steps. 1. Contacting previous two landlords. This will knock out 95% of the problem tenants. No Fees. no personal info, just two quick calls. 2. Of the remaining, the fee will be deducted from the first month's rent. But very few people, good renters included, like it when a stranger goes thru their credit history. Unless the place is ideal in an ideal location with an ideal rent, don't be surprised when they skip to the next ad in the paper. Bad tenants shy away from past landlord checks and move on.

Posted by Matthew M, IL on Wednesday, September 16, 2009