Dallas-Based Firm Facilitates Tenant Background Checks for Clients
Dallas, Texas (PRWEB) October 17, 2013 -- Tenant Background Search (tenantbackgroundsearch.com) announces it has added legally compliant application forms on its website for landlords to use to conduct research on candidates applying for rental openings. Spokesman Jeff LeVan said the forms, “Background Research and Release” and “A Summary of Your Rights Under the Fair Credit Reporting Act” can be accessed by their clients at no charge.
“The Fair Credit Reporting Act (FCRA) requires that landlords get prospective tenant approval to do a background check on their finances,” said LeVan. “The forms we offer online are very simple to fill out, and they contain vital wording that is in compliance with the Act whereby people applying as tenants signify their approval to the check. The form is good in all states, with a special note for California residents, making it easier for landlords to perform their due diligence without worry of violating federal law,” he said.
LeVan said the Summary form is also a legal requirement and must be given to prospective tenants so they will know their rights under the Fair Credit Reporting Act. “A landlord must give all applicants a copy of the ‘Summary of Your Rights Under the Fair Credit Reporting Act’ form so they have recourse in the event information contained in that report is used to deny them tenancy,” LeVan said.
LeVan said both forms are available on their website at tenantbackgroundsearch.com.
LeVan also reminded landlords that they have the right to charge the applicant for the cost of the background check as long as the fee is relatively reasonable to the actual cost. He said the landlord should plainly state the reason for the fee and emphasize to the applicant that the fee is not a down payment to hold the rental property. LeVan also warned landlords that accepting a fee to offset the cost of the background checks and them pocketing the money instead of running the check was illegal, as was singling out specific minorities and other discriminatory practices.
LeVan said tenantbackgroundsearch.com offers three different packages of background checks on prospective tenants. The costs range from $19.95 to $32.95 and include such items as a credit report, a national criminal check, a sex offender check, checks in compliance with the Patriot Act, bankruptcies, foreclosures, medical collections, employment summaries, known aliases, past history address and national eviction notices.
Per LeVan, landlords as well as corporate property management firms use their service, which requires no membership and no minimum number of searches. Reports are made available electronically and can be accessed online 24 hours a day, he said. LeVan also said that landlords can even have their clients pay for the service, with the results sent directly to the landlord.
Inquiries about their services can be made by clicking on Contact Us, LeVan said.
Jeff LeVan, 214-519-8243, [email protected]
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