The way I do it is I joined a local landlord/tenant screening agency, they provide me with all the materials to become an effective landlord, and that includes the papers to have the tenant sign, then I fax it into the company and they fax me back a full credit, rental and criminal history on the prospective tenant. The report costs around $35 and it is charged as non refundable to the tenant. Check your yellow pages or the newspaper to locate a landlor/tenant screening agency.
Re: Getting credit reports - Posted by HaroldK(IL)
Posted by HaroldK(IL) on October 14, 1998 at 08:38:21:
Even though the law only requires a permissible purpose, the
company you are dealing with to get you the reports may be
more restrictive.
I use Northland Services (800-905-8774) or www.northcs.com/norser/. They require not only that
you get the persons permission in writing, but that
you send a copy of your application within a reasonable
time after you run the credit report. They say that their
provider, TRANS UNION, requires it.
There is even a new requirement, where you have to tell
which property (in case of landlord or selling) you are
running the credit report for and it is compared against
a list of your properties that you have given a signed
statement saying you own.
Things are really getting tighter since this new Fair
Credit Reporting Act came into being.