The hunt for the perfect rental property can be intense, especially in times like these where there’s a lot of competition. You might spend week scouring listings and calling potential landlords as soon as one pops up that fits your needs. If all goes well, you’ll get a look at a place you love and get your rental application in before anyone else can.
Now, all that’s left is for your landlord to approve your application before you sign your lease. What could go wrong? Well, there are a few things that could keep you from that house or apartment that you worked so hard to find:
- Your plans could be derailed by bad credit. When many landlords process your application, they check your credit history. You might even think you have good credit, but there’s an error on your credit report that needs to be resolved.
- A case of mistaken identity. You’ve never been in trouble with the law, but your landlord’s background check turned up something negative. It’s rare, but it’s possible for a charge against someone with the same name as you to mistakenly show up on your criminal background check, or a sex offender or global terrorist search.
- A surprise dispute with a previous landlord surfaces. You may have thought you resolved a situation with a previous landlord, only to find that it turned up when your new landlord ran a rental history report.
The best way ensure that you’ll be in good standing when your future landlord runs a background check is to conduct one on yourself before you apply. “How can I see my rental history?” you might ask. It’s easy. Simply sign up to receive a report, and you’ll know within 24 hours if there are any issues you should be aware of before you apply for housing.
