Tenant Verification Services provides landlords and property managers with a variety of screening options. Select a market to sign up or learn more.
A committee reviewing a landlord licensing scheme for Toronto has voted to move forward with what it says is a plan to rein in bad landlords and make them accountable. Tenants have welcomed the move, claiming it will relieve squalor and other problem conditions in...
If there is one universal rule that applies to using tenant credit checks, it's that a credit score alone is not enough to evaluate a rental applicant. A credit report is important -- but not the sole factor -- when it comes to finding the right tenant. There is no...
A new survey just released by credit reporting service TransUnion shows that while millennials would prefer to purchase their homes, more than 40% won't realize that dream due to poor credit. According to the survey results, 43% of individuals aged 18-34 have subprime...
Already this year, a number of landlords have been charged for mistreating tenants with disabilities. Last year, HUD prosecuted more than 4,500 of these complaints, the majority of all discrimination claims. Three of the four newest cases reported involve mishandling...
Spiders Scarier Than the Undead Household pests cause everything from nightmares to breakups, according to a study just released by pest control giant Terminix. According to the survey, conducted by Kelton Global, 93% of people are afraid of encountering common...
For years, landlords have called for a good and bad tenant registry that could help weed out the problem tenants from the good, and reduce rental income loss. Now, that wish is reality. TVS has launched its affiliate website, LandlordCreditBureau.ca, which hosts a...
"Somewhat uncomfortable." That's how one landlord responded when she discovered pictures of her furnished rental condo on Airbnb, an online vacation rental website. The listing included reviews of her property from the several tenants who had lived there. All this,...
Finding great tenants is the correct path to profits for landlords. Unfortunately, the job doesn't stop there. Continuing, active property management is crucial to avoiding income loss. Recent reports of landlord-tenant disputes prove how easy it is to get off track....
There is no doubt that adopting a smoke-free policy in rental units will improve tenant retention, provide lower maintenance costs, reduce landlord liabilities, and help cut down on tenant complaints. At the same time, these benefits depend upon monitoring and...
For years, landlords have called for a bad tenant registry that could help weed out the problem tenants from the good, and reduce rental income loss. Now, that wish is reality. TVS has launched its affiliate website LandlordCreditBureau.com which hosts a comprehensive...
It's common practice for landlords to check if a new rental applicant has a criminal history. In fact, that's mandatory if a landlord wants to avoid liability. However, under the Fair Housing Act, tenant screening policies that misuse criminal background checks may...
The apartment market remains strong, according to early data prepared by Axiometrics, the leader in apartment market and student housing research and analysis. The national occupancy rate was 94.8% in the first quarter, tied for the highest 1Q rate since 2001. The...
Landlords are not keeping pace with the desire of tenants to go smoke-free, a new report released by the UCLA Center for Health Policy Research shows. In that survey of Los Angeles, only 20% of rental housing is smoke-free, where 82% of renters indicated a preference...
An Ontario tenant who reportedly has been evicted seven times and served time for lying on a rental application is in the eviction system once again. According to a report by the Toronto Star, the woman moved into a new rental home and then failed to pay rent. Her...
A rental application is a powerful tool for landlords. It is indispensable in tenant screening, and also in collecting a judgement if a tenant defaults on rent or damages the property. Yet, there are some things a rental application cannot accomplish -- at lease not...
Under civil forfeiture laws, provincial governments have seized apartment buildings and rental homes from landlords when tenants have committed crimes such as selling drugs on the premises. This occurred even when the landlords were not involved in the illegal...
There is an experiment underway in the Sandy Hill section of Ottawa. Through a pilot program dubbed Noise In Sandy Hill, local lawmakers are seeking to quell noise complaints by involving landlords. Currently, only a tenant has to answer for a noise complaint....
Finding the right tenant is key to building a successful rental business. At the same time, identifying that person quickly is the difference between profit and income loss. Screening tenants does not need to be stressful or time-consuming. With these tops strategies,...
Could you afford to lose $13,000? $20,000? $45,000? These are examples of fines levied against landlords for failing to provide tenants with lead paint disclosure forms. It is important to note that these fines are not conditioned upon actual injury. Should an...
Even in a hot rental market, a landlord still may experience income loss. All it takes it one problem tenant. There is no magic formula when it comes to sizing up a tenant. Rental applicants are unique, and that means landlords must be adaptable. However, there are...
