Author Topic: Checking Tenant Applicant's Credit and Income  (Read 1082 times)

lilsaver

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Checking Tenant Applicant's Credit and Income
« on: September 01, 2018, 11:13:42 AM »
I'm helping my parents screen applicants for their rental property. They've heard of CheckPoint Screening from a friend, so we were going to try to set up an account there to check the applicant's tenant. But, I know the credit check doesn't verify income. How do you verify an applicant's income? Do you call the employer on the application form? The income on the application looks fine, but one spouse works on commission, so my parents wanted to make sure the other spouse's income was real and accurate. Anybody with experience on this?

Any advice would be helpful. Thank you in advance.

Knapptyme

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Re: Checking Tenant Applicant's Credit and Income
« Reply #1 on: September 01, 2018, 11:55:59 AM »
By all accounts, I'm a newbie landlord. That being said, however, I appreciated using Zillow's background check service. (It also works through Trulia and something else.) For the prospective renter, their application and background check is good for 30 days for anyone they want to send it to through the app/site that can see it. Everything is free on the landlord side of it, and the prospective renter knows their money is going straight to costs and not some surcharge.

It may have been dumb luck for me on my first try, but it seemed worthwhile (job verification/history, credit check, criminal check, housing history, and other stuff). I'll let the more experienced landlords chime in from here on, but there's my $.02.

tralfamadorian

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Re: Checking Tenant Applicant's Credit and Income
« Reply #2 on: September 01, 2018, 03:07:06 PM »
I use cozy.co's credit and background check plus google and facebook search. Cozy.co charges the applicant directly and funds do not go through the landlord. Everyone is welcome to apply (never discourage anyone from applying) but I do tell them upfront what would be a disqualifier- credit score below xxx, income below x, any eviction record, any violent or drug related criminal history, bankruptcy within the past x years, etc. I don't want anyone to be surprised if their application is denied.

Employment and income is verified through a phone call to employer (through a google search of the employer, not a number or name the applicant provides) and paystub. Self employment or lumpy income verified through tax returns, 1099 or W-2.