Background Screening

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 ...

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...

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 sunlight Wear on rugs/carpet (especially in high-traffic areas) due to normal use Minor scuffs on floors or trim Broken plumbing as a result of daily use Broken appliances that are not the result of misuse Warped doors and windows caused by moisture, temperature or age Small nicks on walls (especially in corners) A reasonable amount of holes in the walls due t...

The Justice Department recently announced that a settlement was reached with the owners and operators of an apartment community in Fremont , California . The lawsuit challenged a policy upheld by the complex which prohibited children from playing outside in the common grassy areas. It was argued through this litigation, that the actions of the defendants constituted a pattern or practice of discrimination against families with children residing on the property. Complaints were filed with the U.S Department of Housing and Urban Development by 5 families who claimed to be negatively impacted by the apartment policy. HUD investigated allegations and then issued a charge of discrimination against those responsible for initiating and maintaining the policy. “Federal law guarantees families with children the right to equal access to housing, including full access to their homes’ amenities and facilities,” said Acting Assistant Attorney General Jocelyn Samuels for the Civil Rights D...

Guidelines put into effect in 2012 by the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission have recently come under heavy scrutiny in front of the House Subcommittee on Workforce Protections. The guidelines are supposed to safeguard employees from workplace discrimination, however, many argue that they are doing a great disservice to employers.   Not only has there been significant uncertainty about what is considered to be justified pre-employment screening, but employers are now caught between two bleak options. They either risk EEOC violations by thoroughly screening potential employees, or limit their screening and increase the risk for employing a criminal. Either may have devastating results for their company. Rep. Tim Walberg, R-Mich., has said that these guidelines not only hinder the employer but could have a negative impact on the overall community: “In certain occupations, a background check of prospective employees is critical to public safety.”   These concerns a...

In February of last year, the US Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) issued a Discriminatory Effects Final Rule to formalize a national standard for determining Fair Housing violations. “Through the issuance of this Rule, HUD is reaffirming its commitment to enforcing the Fair Housing Act in a consistent and uniform manner,” said HUD secretary Shaun Donovan. The Fair Housing Act prohibits housing practices that result in disparate impact on a group of persons because of race, color, religion, sex, handicap, familial status or national origin. The practice of running criminal background checks on potential tenants may now be prohibited under the Discriminatory Effects Standard Final Rule. Many in the rental housing industry have expressed serious concern over the final rule, specifically, the limitations placed on tenant screening. Criminal background checks provide some level of assurance that measures are being taken to uphold resident safety and viability. By ...