Landlords Beware: Hidden Dangers Lurk in Popular Tenant Screening Tools

In a shocking revelation, a recent investigation has uncovered significant flaws in some of the most widely used tenant screening services. Zillow, RentSpree, and SoftScreen have been found to be missing crucial data that could put rental property owners at risk.

Criminal History Gaps

One of the most concerning issues is the limited timeframe for criminal history checks. Zillow, a well-known and seemingly convenient screening tool, only reports criminal records within the last 7 years no matter what state you’re running the report in. This means that tenants with serious criminal histories, like arson, rape, or weapons related-charges may pose a threat to your property, the residents that live in your buildings and dangerous people could easily slip through the cracks. 

As of September 2024, Zillow’s website states, “To align with Federal guidelines, criminal and housing court record background checks do not include: Records older than 7 years, arrests records, non-conviction records, dismissed records, non-judgments older than 1 year and vacated/appealed housing court cases, or judgements in favor of the defendant.” 

While this might coincide with “federal guidelines” for employment background, it does not apply to rental housing, where there is no federal statute of limitations on reporting criminal convictions. TenantTracks prefers to provide landlords, property managers and REALTORS the full historic picture of tenants and does not hide or conceal criminal data after any amount of time. You can read the full disclaimer HERE.

Missing Eviction Records

Another major oversight is the failure to include eviction records in many screening reports. Alarmingly, in Connecticut as of September 2024, both RentSpree and SoftScreen have failed to include Connecticut eviction data in their background checks consistently. Eviction data, as you can imagine, is one of the most important pieces of a tenant background check, and we’d argue their reports shouldn’t even be considered “complete” without this data. Landlords relying on these incomplete services could unknowingly rent to tenants with a history of causing problems, not paying rent and damaging properties. You can read the full disclaimer HERE.

The Dangers of Incomplete Screening

• Property Damage: Tenants with a history of property damage could cause significant financial losses to landlords.
• Legal Issues: Non-paying tenants cause legal problems for landlords, including costly eviction proceedings and could make good tenants move it as some states have prolonged eviction processes.
• Tenant Safety: Incomplete screening can put other tenants at risk if a dangerous or disruptive individual is allowed to move in.

The Importance of Comprehensive Screening

To protect your rental property and ensure the safety of your tenants, it is essential to use a comprehensive tenant screening service. TenantTracks offers a superior solution that includes:

• Extensive Criminal History: TenantTracks dives deeper into criminal records than most screening companies, providing information beyond the standard 7-year timeframe.
• Complete Eviction Records: Our reports include eviction records from all states that allow for such information to be used for screening including Connecticut which is not available on RentSpree or SoftScreen, ensuring you have a complete picture of a tenant's rental history.
• Alias Name Eviction Matches: We also match up Alias Names to records other companies will miss such as a divorce case. We provide this additional protection in RI, CT, MA, NH and VT, covering most of New England.
• Financial Verification: We offer options for verifying a tenant's income and credit history, helping to assess their financial stability.

Don't Become a Victim

Use TenantTracks for screening rental applicants and if you are currently using Zillow, RentSpree, or SoftScreen, it's time to switch to a more reliable service. TenantTracks offers a comprehensive and affordable solution that can help you protect your rental property and avoid costly mistakes.

TenantTracks is the best choice for landlords seeking an easy to use format providing comprehensive and affordable tenant screening solutions. Our reports provide the most accurate and up-to-date information available. By choosing TenantTracks, you can rest assured that you are making informed leasing decisions about your future tenants and protecting your rental property.