Recent Challenges for Landlords in Housing Point to Immediate Need to Work With Tenant Screening Agency; Opines TenantScreeningUSA.com

WALTHAM , Mass., May 13, 2019 /PRNewswire-PRWeb/ -- Oregon and California remain the epicenter for housing challenges, specifically those faced by renters, and yet the challenge to landlords and property managers remains just as strong, especially considering new laws governing tenant screening within the rental market. Adam Almeida, President and CEO of TenantScreeningUSA.com opines: "Every day there is a headline about rental housing and the potential of new law, and a best practice remains that all landlords and property managers work with a well-qualified third-party tenant screening agency."

In California a series of laws have been written and introduced into the state legislature for approval. With so many laws being proposed confusion will surely reign for landlords and property managers.

Adam Almeida, President and CEO of TenantScreeningUSA.com, states: "Every time there is a law affecting rental properties; landlords and property managers should obviously take note, but when so many are proposed and have the potential of being enacted landlords and property managers should immediately ensure their tenant screening policies are fully compliant and a professional tenant screening agency can assist with this process."

From an opinion piece in the Orange County Register, (Apr. 11, 19) the editorial staff outlines the challenges with owning a rental property in California.

The Assembly Housing and Community Development Committee is currently considering Assembly Bill 36, ...

The housing committee is also considering AB 1482 ... and AB 53...

The Assembly Judiciary Committee is looking at AB 1481 and AB 1697, which would restrict the rights of property owners to evict tenants without first establishing "just cause"; AB 1110, which would require three to four months advance notice of some rent increases; and AB 724, which would establish a statewide rental registry to track "displacements" and evictions. (1)

Further up the coast lawmakers in Oregon continue to face down the pressure of low housing availability combined with high demand, and work toward resolving their own localized housing crisis. The focus for Oregon lawmakers appears to be with housing inequity.

From an opinion piece in Street Roots (Apr. 19, 19) reviews steps being made to curb inequity.

... landlords are offered two approaches for screening tenants. There is a reduced-barrier tract that sets new criteria that are more forgiving of criminal histories or low credit scores. But it is not mandatory, nor should it be.

The other option allows a landlord to continue to use the screening criteria of their choosing – as allowed by state law – but they need to add an individualized assessment. With this assessment, the tenant can provide additional documentation and make their case on issues that might otherwise result in their application being denied. Instead of a wholesale dismissal based on a form, prospective renters would have the opportunity to state their case. (2)

Almeida concludes: "It's pretty simple: Landlords and property managers should work with a well-qualified third-party tenant screening agency for assistance in staying fully compliant with current and proposed law. In times like these where housing remains such a challenge for so many people, laws will continuously change in an attempt to assist potential renters. And for as long as these challenges remain in effect the safest approach for landlords and property managers remains to partner with a professional tenant screening agency."

TenantScreeningUSA.com provides full service tenant screening for landlords and property managers of any size and can greatly assist them in remaining fully compliant with all existing law governing tenant screening. With a highly trained and experienced staff, TenantScreeningUSA.com can provide help to landlords and property managers with all aspects of the tenant screening process.

Notes:
(1)    ocregister.com/2019/04/11/sacramentos-war-on-landlords-will-only-worsen-the-housing-shortage/
(2)    news.streetroots.org/2019/04/19/sr-editorial-rental-screening-changes-are-needed-tackle-inequity

SOURCE TenantScreeningUSA.com