Can the Past Predict the Future?

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Can a tenant’s past behavior predict how they will act in the future? If they did not pay their rent on time at the last place they lived, does that mean they will not pay their rent for their next home? Will they continue to damage the property in which they live as they did in their last place?

There’s only one way to find out the answer to these very important questions: the AAOA Landlord Verification.

To facilitate the process, be sure to use the AAOA Application to Rent-Comprehensive found in our free forms library. This application contains spaces for three past landlords and their contact information, dates of occupancy, monthly rent and reason for moving.

What can be learned from a Landlord Verification?

Past landlords can answer a lot of questions about your potential tenant. Will a person who routinely paid their rent late or did damage to the rental property continue that behavior when living in your property?

After you have placed your order for a Landlord Verification, an AAOA screening consultant will call the previous landlord to discuss your applicant’s behavior while they were their tenant. They will be looking for past behavior that might lead to significant problems for you.

Below is a list of questions that will be asked during that call. The answers should reveal the type of tenant your applicant will be should you decide to rent to them.

• When did the tenant move into the property?
• Are they still there? If not, when did they move out?
• How much rent did they pay? Did they consistently pay it on time?
• How many people were in the household?
• Were there people living there who were not on the lease?
• Did they do any damage to the home? Did they keep it clean?
• Did they have a pet? What kind? Any problems caused by it?
• Any problems with the neighbors?
• Was the tenant evicted?
• Would you rent to them again?

Use the answers to these questions to make informed decisions that will protect your property and ensure a pleasant community for all of your tenants. A history of paying rent as agreed to in the lease, respecting the past landlord’s property, both inside and outside, and conducting oneself in a civilized manner are all indications that the applicant will continue to behave in a positive manner.

Can you trust a written landlord letter of reference?

Yes, you can accept written landlord reference letters, but can you be certain they are legitimate? In this age of artificial intelligence (AI) and rampant application fraud, it’s often hard to tell a fake document from an authentic one. Almost everyone has access to a computer, a free landlord reference letter template and a printer. There are actually web sites devoted to the creation of counterfeit documents.

If you decide to accept a written landlord reference letter, there are certain things to watch out for:

• Confirm ownership of the address listed as the prior landlord. If necessary, search public property tax rolls and property transfer records.
• Confirm details that the applicant has already provided. Be on the lookout for answers that do not match, including dates of occupancy or the amount of rent.
• Compare the address details with the Past Address History provided in your AAOA background screening results.

In the end, nothing compares with the direct contact provided by an AAOA Landlord Verification phone call. One can get a better sense of a person by speaking with them directly rather than relying on an email or something written on paper.

Conclusion

Why risk your livelihood and investment by renting to someone that you have not thoroughly screened? You are already doing your due diligence by utilizing AAOA’s tenant credit check and background screening services. Why not go that extra step by ordering a Landlord Verification to minimize the threat of financial loss?

You can order a professional AAOA Landlord Verification while you are placing your initial screening package or order it later from your options menu. By evaluating these references, you can significantly reduce risks, allowing you to select the tenants most likely to maintain a positive and respectful tenancy.