You don’t have to be an expert in property management and rental best practices to know that tenant screening is one of the most important steps in protecting your rental property and ensuring a successful lease term. A lot of owners do know this, but then rely only on credit reports as a key indicator of financial responsibility and suitability for a rental property.

A credit report alone doesn’t give you the full picture. If your tenant screening report seems incomplete, it may be missing some crucial data that requires additional digging. Let’s explore the essential components that don’t always show up in a standard credit check, and why they matter.

National Eviction History

A credit report might indicate unpaid rent or collections, but it doesn’t always reveal past evictions. That’s why a national eviction check is so important. A prospective tenant may have been evicted in another city or state, and unless you’re running a comprehensive screening through a service that pulls national eviction records, you could miss this red flag entirely. This kind of report helps identify patterns of problematic tenancy that won’t show up in a credit score alone.

Criminal Background Check

Most credit checks don’t include criminal records. While every landlord must comply with Fair Housing laws and use this information carefully, running a criminal background check is essential for protecting your property and ensuring the safety of neighbors and other tenants. Look for screening tools that allow you to view criminal records across multiple jurisdictions, especially if the applicant has lived in different states.

Rental History Verification

Credit reports may show addresses associated with the applicant, but they don’t tell you how the tenant behaved while living there. Direct landlord references can provide insight into:

- Rent payment history
- Complaints
- Property condition upon move-out
- Pet problems
- Whether the tenant received proper notice before leaving

Rental history is one of the best predictors of future behavior, but it requires effort to gather. If you aren’t interested in doing this yourself, a property management partner can be invaluable.

Income and Employment Verification

Confirm income so you know your tenant can afford your rent. Verify pay stubs, tax returns, or employment letters. Some tenants may have changed jobs recently or work in industries with irregular income, so confirm that they meet your rent-to-income ratio requirements before signing a lease.

Past Utility or Housing Debts

Collections listed on a credit report might not break down the source of the debt. Tenants who have left behind unpaid utility bills or property damages may not raise immediate red flags on a standard credit summary. A deeper dive into public records, or asking previous landlords directly, can uncover these hidden liabilities.

It’s important to do more than run a credit check on a prospective tenant. To protect your investment and find high-quality tenants, expand your screening process to include eviction records, criminal checks, rental history, income verification, and more. A thorough approach may take more time, but it helps you avoid costly mistakes.

We can help with this, and place a high-quality tenant. Contact us at Trend Property & Management. We specialize in Fort Worth property management, with comprehensive services available across the surrounding counties of Tarrant, Parker, Johnson, Hood, and Denton.