Rental Services, Inc. August 2019 Newsletter


Each day I talk to current and future clients about background screening and other industry related topics. The one question that I’m asked on a regular basis is what is the most important part of the background check? After I explain how every part is important and how each individual piece of information is needed to make an informed business decision, we talk about Forcible Entry and Detainers (otherwise known as an “FED” or “eviction” lawsuit).

In my opinion an applicant who has a verified eviction is a high-risk renter. At Rental Services, Inc. we feel an eviction search is so valuable it is included with almost every screening package we offer.
Industry studies have shown that applicants with an eviction are three times more likely to have another eviction and have double the number of apartment related collections.  

At one time eviction records showed up on the credit report. However, on July 1, 2017, Equifax, Experian and TransUnion began to exclude most public tax lien and all civil judgment (eviction) information that didn’t meet National Consumer Assistance Plan standards.

When an eviction record is found it will often include information on who filed the eviction, the reason for the eviction and the balance owed by the former tenant.

Some companies only provide eviction filings vs actual judgements. The eviction filing is when the person is late paying rent and is served a notice and sent to the courts for the eviction process. Often the tenant pays or moves and that’s the end of the process. A judgement is obtained when the eviction process is complete, and possession of the unit is granted to the property owner. A similar comparison showing the difference in the two types would be criminal arrest records (eviction filings) vs criminal convictions records (judgements).

Rental Services, Inc. only uses actual judgement records and the RSI team of credit investigators manually verifies the records with the company or person who filed the eviction. Very few companies do this additional step and will only provide you with a record match and leave the verification up to you.

Evictions can come from more than failure to pay rent. Criminal activity, excessive noise complaints or other nuisance behavior can be grounds of eviction.

Knowing the applicant has a history of problems with other property owners is extremely helpful when making a rental decision. Making sure the applicant will pay on-time, take care of your asset and be a good neighbor to other residents is invaluable.


Do you use the RSI Quick App?

If you’re not currently taking advantage of the RSI Quick App you might want to start using it. The online rental application is an easy was for applicants to apply online and pay the application fee for you. Using the RSI Quick App saves you time and money.

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