Conducting a tenant background check is essential for landlords in Portland, ME, who want to ensure they are choosing responsible and reliable renters for their properties. With Maine's landlord-tenant laws, having a solid screening process is especially important to help avoid future legal complications and protect property investments.
A thorough background check can give insights into a tenant's financial stability, rental history, and overall suitability for your property. Here's a guide for landlords to navigate the tenant screening process.
Background Check Methods
Checking a tenant's credit history offers insight into their financial responsibility. Landlords can review outstanding debts, payment history, and credit scores. Ideally, a tenant with a strong credit history will be more likely to pay rent on time.
Rental History
Contacting previous landlords is an excellent way to learn about the tenant's rental behavior. Previous landlords can provide information about timely payments, whether the tenant left the property in good condition, and if there were any conflicts or issues during their tenancy.
Criminal Record
Screening for a criminal history can be sensitive. Maine landlords must comply with fair housing laws, avoiding discrimination against individuals based on certain backgrounds.
Employment and Income Verification
It's crucial to confirm that the tenant can afford the rent. The general rule is to look for an income that's at least three times the monthly rent. Verifying employment and income, whether through pay stubs or direct employer contact, gives landlords confidence in the tenant's ability to pay consistently.
Stay Compliant with Maine Laws
Maine has strict rules on tenant screening to protect renters. A few key legal considerations include the following.
Application Fees
Maine law limits application fees, which landlords can charge to cover background check expenses. As of 2022, this fee must only cover actual screening costs. You must also provide applicants with a copy of the information from the screening report.
Written Consent
To conduct a credit or criminal background check, landlords must obtain written consent from the applicant. Including this in the application form is a straightforward way to gain authorization.
Choose Reliable Landlord Screening Tools
Landlords in Portland, ME, have access to many tenant screening services, including services that streamline credit, criminal, and rental history checks. Tools like TransUnion SmartMove, RentPrep, and Cozy simplify background checks while ensuring compliance with Maine's laws.
By using reputable screening services, landlords can minimize errors, ensure data accuracy, and save time on the tenant selection process.
A Tenant Background Check Is A Non-Negotiable In The Rental Process
The rental process must involve some kind of tenant background check, as it can assure you about the credibility and reliability of the tenant and their ability to pay the rent on time.
Need help with this? DJC Management has over 15 years of experience in the property management business, managing properties in Portland, ME, and beyond. Contact our team to learn more about how we can help.
