Have used same tenant placement service for several years, but not in the last couple. Seems they've changed their operating process and now deny landlord specific applicant info for review. Will only give you summerized info (credit score, background info), but won't release reports. They say it's a privacy matter. They expect you to blindly sign a legal contract (lease) without specific info which they'll provide after tenant moves in. While they're reputable and done a good job in he past, somehow asking a landlord to blindly sign a legal contract with a third party without specific information about the third party seems wrong especially if they're not willing to accept any legal liability. Would you agree to this arrangement?

Not a chance in ____!

Looks like this placement service has been taken over by the type who think we owe them.

There are several agencies that work together to find housing for in-need families. They call themselves HUD or Section 8. Because of the Pandemic, prisons have early release programs for the non-violent. So the Department of Prisons now work with HUD/Section 8, to provide more "people" to go into the program using Tax Dollars to pay the rent.

Now Section 8 and HUD tell Landlords, under contract with other rentals, they will screen the applicants, guarantee all rent (including the tenants part) AND give a $500 deposit on behalf of the applicant. So the Lazy Landlord who never learned how to properly screen applicants (Credit Reports, Eviction History, Criminal Background, Social Security Trace, Bad Check Writing and more) will be fooled into accepting Less than desirable tenants.

A friend refused to listen and accepted a "bad apple". The condo was trashed and after six months they got zero rental payments. Because of the pandemic, they couldn't evict. I found a lease violation so after that, they finally evicted. $4,600 in legal fee's. $12,000 in lost rent. $20,000 in damages.

It sounds like the different versions of credit check reports that are available. If landlords meet certain requirements, they can receive all info on report. If you only provide certain info as user of credit reporting service, they give you summary.

I don't know if that if what is going on but you can certainly use different service and obtain written permission from tenant to view all info. If applicant doesn't want to provide permission, you can move on to next applicant,and you can certainly use different rental agreement.

Be aware that maybe your agreement might be outdated and you need to be sure you have all of the necessary disclosures and terms in your agreement. Maybe their agreement is actually better. You can have them reviewed by landlord attorney or contact your local apartment owner association.

It sounds like you don't like this proposal - so what is holding you back so you can be certified to do what you want to do?

The credit bureaus about 10 years ago cracked the whip and wanted to make sure folks posing as LLs actually had the safety measures in place to get the data you are wanting.