{"id":337,"date":"2017-07-06T19:16:55","date_gmt":"2017-07-06T19:16:55","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.freeway.com\/knowledge-center\/?p=337"},"modified":"2025-01-17T23:09:32","modified_gmt":"2025-01-17T23:09:32","slug":"tenant-screening-expect","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.freeway.com\/knowledge-center\/renters-insurance\/renting-basics\/tenant-screening-expect\/","title":{"rendered":"Tenant Screening: What to Expect"},"content":{"rendered":"

You found a great apartment complex that has everything you need at a rental price you\u2019re looking for. It\u2019s going to be great moving in and enjoying the new environment. However, when you showed interest in renting the apartment, the landlord asked to do a tenant screening<\/b> on you. What\u2019s all that about?<\/p>\n

Relax. For most people, a tenant background check<\/b> isn\u2019t any cause for concern. It is a way to both protect your landlord and protect you as well. Let\u2019s break it down and fully explore what a tenant check<\/b> is and what it means to you.<\/p>\n

What is a tenant screening?<\/h2>\n

A tenant screening is a tenant credit check<\/b>, rental background check<\/b>, and a tenant background search<\/b> that helps landlords weigh in the risk of letting a prospective tenant sign a lease agreement<\/b>.<\/p>\n

Why do landlords insist on doing a tenant screening?<\/h2>\n

The purpose of a tenant screening is to verify that a potential renter\u2019s information is accurate along with determining if it is worth the risk of entering into a lease agreement with that potential renter. It may seem overboard, but lease agreements entitle renters to certain rights and benefits.<\/p>\n

Many states protect the rights of renters once they have signed a lease agreement to an apartment or condo. Once the agreement is signed, it becomes very difficult for landlords to legally evict tenants for non-payment or for illegal behavior. Even if the landlord is justified in evicting a tenant, it could take a long time for an eviction to be legally enforced through the courts.<\/p>\n

All of this is actually a good thing for renters, since it prevents crooked landlords from ousting tenants illegally. However, this means that a landlord wants to be extra cautious in who they let rent their properties, since they cannot easily remove them if they turn out to be trouble. A tenant screening essentially gives the landlord a look into your past and your supposed character to make sure you are worth taking the risk of renting out the apartment to you.<\/p>\n

What will the landlord check during a tenant screening?<\/h2>\n

A tenant screening can vary and can consist of a number of different kinds of reports. A basic minimum rental credit check<\/b> or tenant screening includes:<\/p>\n