MA is moving to seal eviction records. I know that some states already have this. How do you screen for evictions? Apparently they are also trying to make it illegal for a LL to disclose to anyone that tenant had an eviction. I already have a high credit requirement so that keeps out most of the eviction “ victims”. Lately I have seen some with 700 plus that aren’t up to date on current rent.

Well first of all, the landlords have the right TO SAY WHATEVER THEY WANTS! He can call them angels or demons. You verify. Nobody will tell me that I can't give a good or bad reference. Will you let yourself be told not to say anything and if so, will you ignore that rule???

Stop letting them scare you.

here in south Atlanta-- we'd like to just see a 700!!!!!

Anything to protect the poor little tenant who chose not to move but steel from the LL and taxpayers.

I have a feeling that now things are only going to get worse.

I am thinking require proof from bank statements or other such forms of at least 1yr that rent was paid.

Just read what NE wrote and I agree in that I will ask whatever I want as it is my property and my investment.

Agree with NE 100%. The land lords hurt by this are the ones who fail to adapt. For every foolish law the legislature creates, come up with 2 ways to accomplish the same task better.

The 2 minute in home inspection continues to be a powerful tool.

Screen their social media. How do you find them? Easy, invite them to connect with you. Create an account and have them contact you on social media to set up a showing.

NC has never made evictions or judgements public.

Sid, I love that idea of " Create an account and have them contact you on social media to set up a showing."

I do like WMH. Two of my 12 Pre Screen questions are - Have you ever been evicted? Has a LL ever asked you to leave? And during the walkthru I ask them the same questions - framed like have you ever had any trouble with a previous LL. I also have the walk thru prospects provide letters of reference including previous LL.

To me - the smartest guy wins most of the time.

How bout a Fibbing/Baloney detector

AEMC #6505

Just today, to the eviction question: "I lost my job due to it going out of business and could not afford to pay rent off of unemployment. I alerted the landlord that I couldn’t pay rent that month and received an eviction notice."

To the "any criminal history? Tell us about it." (SAME PERSON!)

"I had ten prescription pain pills on me that were not legally written out to me many years ago [NOTE by WMH: 2014!] and got in trouble for them. It was my first and only time ever being in trouble like that, I was younger and made a mistake that I learned from and will never allow myself to be in that position ever again. I have been paying for that choice dearly for many years and expect to keep paying for it as it will follow me around for the rest of my life. I can no longer become an attorney in the state of NC, it caused me to have a record and I’m not one to lie about it so I always tell the truth about it. It was a dumb, dumb mistake that will never be repeated but even the magistrate said, I am not a problem child and not a revolving door in the Criminal Justice system. I made a poor choice and have learn and grown from it."

Lear's always tell the truth.

Thieves never steel.

Just more ridiculous rulings. In any rational state Supreme Court, this would be overturned. But this is MA, so it wont.

WMH, looks like you found your new tenant?

LOL, sounds like a dilemma. I'd take the one with the best excuses.

Love these ideas-- would suggest this about the "little pre interview". Just thrown out there nonchalantly.

YOU know we've done some preliminary work on you possible renting from us and see you had an issue with a previous or current LL.

Can you give me / use some info on that before we run your application? Maybe give us your side.

Yes I know your fishing but if they think you already know something they'll spill the beans.

I've had way to many just answer no on the app about eviction hoping they'll get threw.

We don't accept anything they SAY because they lie.

My app asks "What will find when we check the courthouse and police records?" SOME people give us answeres, most don't.

We used to ask if they have been evicted but it was pointless. The ones who were evicted lie or (I think) don't believe they were evicted even tho it shows on the court records.

Yes we let them screen out themselves with comments but we don't allow them to screen IN by their comments.

Show me documentation.

They made laws about what we can and cannot say like "Are you married? How many children? Age?..."

At first contact, I ask for the name of all adults, birth date (year not needed) and what city they are currently living in.

Then I ask them if they will pass a background check. Most say yes and lie. Few admit no. When they ask what all I am checking for, I am pretty sure they will not.

Then I tell them I am going to check public court records to see if they will pass my INITIAL background check and get back to them. Luckily in this state, we can still check public court records free. From time to time, people in the state trying to get them to not be public records but so far we have been able to keep them free so we can check people out.

After checking out their names, I text them back. Most of the time it is I am sorry but you will not pass the initial background check. Sometimes I am lucky and the first check shows nothing to be concerned out. Then later I can review the application they submit and check them out further (past landlords, jobs, etc.

This is so messed up. More shielding of people from the consequences of their own bad behavior....because they are "victims", I suppose, in some people's eyes?

NE I can only imagine what's coming down the pike :<.

Yes J, we landlords are hunted. Fortunately, from here on out we can ignore most of it as much as possible. All we have to do is try.

If we haven't learned that the media is biased and fake, we haven't paid attention.

As far as the fake administration that's coming in, you can comply if you want. :-). Just saying.

...The ones who were evicted lie or (I think) don't believe they were evicted even tho it shows on the court records...

I've had folks tell me they were never evicted even though it's in black and white on the online court system. When questioned further, they tell that they moved before the constable put them out. In their minds, they aren't lying. They truly don't consider that being evicted.