TENANT BACKGROUND CHECKS: What’s in a Name?

TENANT BACKGROUND SCREENING: What’s in a Name?

Although a prospect’s name typically is the first thing a landlord asks for, it is often incomplete on the application and lease.  This presents a problem for enforcement of the lease agreement, evictions, subsequent collection efforts, and investigations.Make certain that you recorded the prospect’s full, legal name, including their middle name. This name should match all of the ID.

It is also important that the signature contains the full, legal name.

• Note any “also known as (a/k/a)” names used – nicknames, maiden names and previous married names.
• Record the names of children. This may be helpful in subsequent investigations/skip-tracing. Although the kids might be minors when they move in, they could become adults during their residency and assume responsibilities under the lease, or require eviction. Don’t assume the children have the same surnames as the adult residents.
• Clarify generational symbols — Jr., Sr., II, III.  It is critical to collection efforts that you can identify the debtor from others with the same name.
• Check married couples’ surnames against their ID.  The wife may be using the husband’s surname only casually.  It may not be her legal name. Also, they may not be legally married.
• When renting to a business, make sure you have the legal name of the entity responsible.  Note any ”doing business as (d/b/a)” names the business may be using, and the names of the principals.  Business entity information can be verified against public records.

Tenant debt collection begins before your prospect moves in.  Learn more from our series Seven Vital Tips to Help You Collect Tenant Debt.  

American Apartment Owners Association offers discounts on products and services related to your commercial housing investment, including tenant debt collection, tenant background checks, insurance and financing.  Find out more at www.joinaaoa.org.

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Filed under: AAOA Forum, Collections, Credit Screening

This entry was posted on Tuesday, February 19th, 2008 at 7:05 pm and is filed under AAOA Forum, Collections, Credit Screening. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.

1. IS YOUR LEASE APPLICATION FALLING SHORT? said at February 27th, 2008 at 3:44 pm

   […] Personal Information, including the full legal name (see What’s in a Name ), phone numbers, Date of Birth, Social Security Number, and Driver’s License Number is critical for screening.  While the SSN is not required to obtain a credit report (see How to Screen a Tenant Who Does Not Have a Social Security Number ), it is a crucial identifier in the screening process.  Likewise, the Date of Birth is critical to criminal background checks, and Driver’s License info is invaluable for uncovering fraud, and for collection efforts. […]

2. Anonymous said at March 15th, 2008 at 1:09 pm

   […] The only information that can distinguish a person on a criminal report is full legal name (See What’s in a Name), a full and accurate date of birth, and accurate address information (See Previous Address Tenant History).  […]

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