When you’re screening tenants, their eviction screening records can grab your attention. It’s not uncommon for you to get a bit skeptical if you see any past evictions. After all, as a landlord, you don’t want any tenants causing problems on your property and compromising your investment.
At the same time, things aren’t always what they seem, and some eviction records aren’t always accurate. Whether it’s because a case got dismissed, or the information is outdated. There might be a few errors, and these errors can shape how you view your tenants. Thus, you should know exactly how screening reports work so you’ll make the right decisions.Â
How Do Landlords Use Screening Reports to Assess Risk?
Before we explore how to remove eviction from a tenant screening report, you should know how landlords use screening reports to assess risk. Screening reports are sort of a first layer of protection. In other words, they help you evaluate a tenant’s rental history, background information, credit, and past evictions. For example, say a tenant had multiple lease violations in their past, you can understandably flag them as a risk to your property.
However, one or two random issues from years ago sometimes don’t hold the same weight in the present. Besides, some reports often show eviction filings even when the tenant actually won the case or settled the dispute. That’s why you shouldn’t jump to conclusions from a single line in a report. In addition, some local laws affect how screening information is used legally, meaning a tenant can still have a wrongful eviction from a previous landlord on their record, and property management groups can help with that discrepancy. For example, Bay Property Management Group Baltimore prioritizes clear communication and formal notice delivery to mitigate risks of wrongful eviction.
Is an Eviction a Major Red Flag?
Well, the obvious answer to this question is yes. It’s true that you might see it as a red flag, and truly, most landlords do. Regardless, the severity of an eviction all depends on the details behind the case. For instance, there’s a big difference between a tenant who stopped paying rent and a tenant who experienced a temporary financial hardship because of a tough time. Unfortunately, screening reports don’t always show the difference.Â
Regardless, you shouldn’t play with your tenants’ eviction history. As a landlord, your property is your business. So you need to be able to trust your tenants. For instance, you can ask questions instead of denying applications straight away. You can also ask for proof of current income and other documents. However, if their records look a bit suspicious, you should confirm the details.Â
This is really important because sometimes inaccurate reporting can cause legal issues for you, too. If screening decisions are based on false information, disputes can follow suit. Therefore, if landlords fail to follow proper legal notice procedures required by your state, you may be able to sue for damages resulting from wrongful eviction.Â
How to Remove Eviction From Tenant Screening Report?Â
Now, how do you remove eviction from a tenant screening report? Well, from a landlord’s perspective, it all depends on whether a tenant disputes any info. For starters, your tenant can ask for a copy of their screening report. From there, they’ll review the information carefully to spot any errors. Afterwards, if anything looks off, they can file a dispute with the reporting agency.
Basically, under consumer reporting laws, screening companies have to investigate disputed information within a specific period. If the company can’t verify the eviction properly, the record can be scrapped completely, and that’s good news for your tenant. In addition, some eviction cases can qualify for expungement or sealing, but that all depends on the state laws. Also, as a landlord, you’ll want to keep an eye on updated reports if there are any disputes.Â
At the same time, you can choose to overlook evictions entirely when evaluating risk. Lots of landlords do. For instance, if a tenant has stable employment, stronger credit behavior, and positive recent references, you could just view their past as irrelevant. So instead of focusing solely on whether an eviction exists, it makes more sense to look at recent patterns. This you’ll be able to make reliable decisions instead of just assuming.Â
Conclusion
At the end of the day, it’s undeniable that eviction records are useful, but they can’t be the sole deciding factor for whether you reject a tenant or not. You still need to review things thoroughly, because every eviction report won’t tell you the full story. At the same time, you can’t be too lenient. And yes, you have to be cautious, but context matters too. When you review screening reports, you need to be careful and take your time. That way, you’ll make stronger and more informed rental decisions in the long run.
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