Background Screening

Did you know that 30% of the population in the United States have a criminal record? That translates to 92 million people with criminal records that are in the workforce. Is one working for you right now?
 Have you tried to stay current with state and federal regulations that pertain to the use of background checks and understand the adverse action and record dispute processes? Failure to comply with state and federal regulations could put you at odds with the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC).
 Does your company pride itself on being customer-responsive? This “customer first” mentality is great for business but if you’re not being customer-responsible and screening employees, you could greatly increase your liability for a negligent hiring lawsuit. The average negligent hiring lawsuit can cost a company nearly $1 million with the highest settlement on record of $26.5 million.
 Today it’s imperative that businesses of any size run pre-employment background checks. This …

Hello Valued Client,
 If you’re a property owner, investor or property manager you may have noticed an increase in legal issues pertaining to the Multifamily Industry.
 Many state and local governments have recently passed or are discussing legal issues that affect background checks. Here are a few that we found to be interesting.
 The City of Seattle Washington has enacted a city ordinance that prevents the use of criminal records as part of the tenant background screening process. The Fair Chance Housing ordinance prohibits a landlord from using any criminal offense when choosing whether to rent to someone. The only exception is for registered sex offenders.
 Colorado had a 3rd reading of House Bill 18-1127 on February 26, 2018. This concerns the application process for prospective renters. The Bill will limit the amount an applicant can be charged for a rental application fee. Rental criteria must be provided in a written format and applicants must receive an adverse action noti…

Over the past few years Rental Services, Inc. has noticed more companies transitioning to the use of applicant tracking software, also known as property management software. These software products handle the general bookkeeping and keep track of a resident through the complete rental cycle. Many of these software platforms have an additional option that provides automated tenant screening services for an extra fee. RSI has also noticed these companies using an instant nationwide criminal report. I’m writing to clarify why the automated tenant screening provided with this type of software and the nationwide criminal records are an inferior product compared to the reports provided by Rental Services, Inc. and why using them is not in your company’s best interest.
Let’s start off by looking at Eviction records, they tell you a lot about a perspective renter. The first eviction can be traumatic for the renter. The second eviction doesn’t hold the same mystery. It’s like watching a scary…

Are you aware of the Gramm Leach Bliley Act? You should if you’re a client of Rental Services, Inc. or you access personally identifiable information as part of a resident screening report. We’ve posted a copy of the Gramm Leach Bliley Act on the RSI website and we recommend taking a moment to review the complete document.
Rental Services, Inc GLBA link.

There are a growing number of online options available to individuals looking for background information.The increasing accessibility of online background screening has fostered the misconception that these checks are easier and cheaper than ever before…and that the information available through an automated platform is of the same quality as that obtained through a qualified credit or background investigator.

We live in a society accustomed to having a wealth of information at our fingertips. The internet is an endless resource for FREE information! However, the plethora of public data does not necessarily make it any easier to generate quality screening information. This is the first problem with online person search products: shockingly poor quality.
Online companies are not able to adequately cross-reference for accuracy. The human element is missing, and in that void lays the essential key to quality screening.An inaccurate address could lead to a complete dead-end, or worse, inf…

It can be a daunting or uncertain task…assessing deductions to a renter’s security deposit.There are security deposit laws specific to each state, so you should check the rules and regulations that pertain to your specific location. In most states, you cannot charge your resident for normal wear and tear, but are able to cover your expenses for damages caused by the resident.

This list contains examples of what would qualify as normal wear and tear, which you, as the property owner, are financially liable to repair:
Faded curtains, carpet, wallpaper or paint due to age or sunlightWear on rugs/carpet (especially in high-traffic areas) due to normal useMinor scuffs on floors or trimBroken plumbing as a result of daily useBroken appliances that are not the result of misuseWarped doors and windows caused by moisture, temperature or ageSmall nicks on walls (especially in corners)A reasonable amount of holes in the walls due to the hanging of picturesBroke…