As if the COVID-19 pandemic and rising unemployment doesn't hit hard enough, some renters are being denied housing due to inaccurate screening reports. Last month, the New York Times reported that many automated tenant background checks produce reports that aren't verified and often untrue. This leaves renters that are denied housing to scramble to find a safe place to live with their families. 

If you're a property manager or landlord, have you considered this? How accurate is your tenant's background check?

Due to social distancing/quarantine requirements across the country, employment or tenant background checks can be affected. Select courthouses in various states have temporarily closed onsite access.  Automated (electronic) access may still be available.

In states where not all courts have closed (only select Counties), VeriFirst clients can talk to us about options to conduct electronic court searches, national database searches, and/or statewide criminal searches.

We urge HR teams to contact us to discuss options for screening applicants and employees during these closures. Options may include modifying current background check packages and/or proactively submitting requests to stay ahead of researcher backlogs. 

The following list  includes current courthouse statuses for reopening and closures that may affect background check turnaround times.

Performing background checks as an employer or landlord is vital to keeping your business, property, customers or employees safe. Unfortunately, the time and cost of a background check may lead to opting out or choosing to do research online in lieu of working with a professional background screening company. This can be a problem if the results found online aren't accurate or if the new hire or tenant isn't screened thoroughly. Denying employment or housing could cause the applicant to litigate because they weren't given a fair chance. Instead of putting yourself or your business at risk of EEOC or FCRA noncompliance, we have some practical ways to help.

Here are 3 simple ways to lower your company's turnaround times and screening costs. 

Employers screening potential applicants face more regulations such as Ban the Box and other "fair chance" laws to decrease discrimination in hiring. Landlords are also facing more legislation for the same reason. Within the past several months, there have been new laws for landlords and property owners looking to run background checks on their tenants. 

Read more to learn about new laws impacting landlords and tenant screening.

Over the past decade, the consumer reporting and background screening industry has seen significant growth. With growth typically comes competition, and with competition usually comes aggressive pricing. The cost of a criminal background check can vary by search type and by screening company (aka Consumer Reporting Agency - CRA). This post is to provide an estimate of what employers and landlords can expect to pay when conducting employment and tenant screening.   

When an employer or landlord runs a credit check on a future tenant or employee, they expect accurate information. Consumers also want to know that the information is correct and up-to-date. Adverse information on a background check, especially a credit report, can affect employment, housing, buying a car or obtaining a loan.  It's imperative that the information be true, verified and safe.

When running a credit background check on an applicant, can you trust what you see?

Keeping individual, multi-family or student rental properties safe, clean and rentable is just as important as having the rent paid on time. Landlords who have not screened their tenants may be curious about background checks, especially if rent isn't being paid or if suspicious activity arises. Property owners who are looking for highly qualified individuals may also have questions about screening future tenants. There are lots of different ways to look into the past of tenants, including a "cheap internet search" but they could cause more trouble than they're worth. As a landlord or property owner, it's best to obtain background checks legally.

So is it legal for a landlord run a background check without permission?

To remain FCRA compliant, consider the following timing for sending adverse action notices.

Since the beginning of the VeriFirst blog, the goal has been to provide an educational resource and assistance to employers and property managers. Compliance is important to those who read here, as well as an awareness of the latest employment and housing laws across the nation. VeriFirst's FCRA certified staff works closely with our clients to help with hiring the right employee or placing the perfect tenant.

Bookmark this blog post as a go-to compliance guide with background check forms and templates for employment screening and tenant screening.

As a property owner or landlord, your goal is to find a tenant who will not only pay on time but also care for your property. VeriFirst's goal, as a background check company, is to help you find the right tenant and also encourage compliance with federal regulations such as FCRA and Fair Housing laws. To stay compliant, this means honoring consumer rights but you also need to protect your business. 

When is the last time you took the time to review your tenant screening criteria?