Since over 33% of Maryland households are renters (Department of Numbers), Columbus landlords have a good selection of potential tenants.
Opting for well-behaved, financially secure tenants is important for landlords looking to make a passive income. Part of this is conducting tenant criminal background checks.
Read on to learn the ins and outs of:
- Maryland tenant screening process laws
- How to conduct a criminal background check
- Why enlisting professional property managers is important
How to Do a Tenant Criminal Background Check
Tenant criminal background checks are a step-by-step process. They involve:
- Getting consent to perform the check
- Ensuring documentation of written consent
- Gathering tenant information like their legal name and SSN
- Making sure that the service you use complies with the Fair Credit Reporting Act (this is easier when professional property managers help you conduct checks)
- Submitting tenant information to the screening platform
- Reviewing the information it shows you
Evaluate and consider:
- The nature of past convictions
- How many convictions there are
- Any arrest records
- Currently-pending charges
- Whether the tenant is on the sex offender registry
Maryland Tenant Screening Laws to Keep in Mind
Maryland landlords can consider a potential renter's criminal history from the past seven years when deciding who to rent to.
It is unusual for landlords to be held responsible for criminal behavior on their property. However, knowingly renting to those involved in crime like drug dealing could result in your property being seized and investigated. That's why it's important to take background checks seriously.
The Maryland Fair Housing Act is a 2024 bill that would lower the threshold for considering past criminal convictions. If it passes, landlords would only be able to consider convictions from the past three years rather than seven. Certain crimes such as murder and sex crimes would still be exceptions.
If the bill passes, landlords would also need to give potential tenants a physical paper document letting them know why they were denied a lease.
Enlist Expert Help
Most landlords don't have the tools needed for a comprehensive screening. This makes sense considering that they can be expensive.
Free tools won't usually cut it when you're trying to make important decisions about your property.
Plus, learning how to use screening technology can take days! You don't want to lose money from an unnecessary vacancy.
That's why you should enlist professionals to help you with the tenant screening process. Expert property managers:
- Have the digital tools and experience to perform quick and accurate screenings
- Can find reliable information about potential tenants
- Offer other property management insights related to screening
The tenant verification process has several steps, so make sure that you choose the best experts around who can perform this multi-step process the right way.
Beyond Landlord Screening Tips
Now that you know how to conduct a comprehensive tenant criminal background check, it's time to get started.
PMI Mason Dixon is committed to helping landlords in Columbia, Maryland make the most of their investments. We perform comprehensive tenant analyses with expert criminal background screening tools.
Contact us to learn more about how much your property is worth and how to maximize its value.
