I Need to Check Out My Landlord and Make Sure He Is Legitimate
By Tina Amo Updated July 18, 2017
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There are plenty of ways to screen a potential landlord before you sign the lease. If the landlord is unwilling to share information, you can learn what you need to know from various sources, such as public offices and the Internet. When you have gathered as much information as is available, use it to make an informed decision about renting the property.
Check Public Ownership Records
Some unscrupulous characters break into foreclosed properties and rent them to unsuspecting people. You can avoid becoming a victim of this scam. The tax collector's office keeps records of taxable properties in the county, and the records contain the names of the legal owners. Search the records for the address of the rental property to find out if the landlord is listed as the owner. If the names don't match, contact the legal owner and ask if she knows the person purporting to be the landlord. Sometimes, the arrangement is legitimate, for example, the person you are dealing with is an agent acting on the legal owner's behalf.
Make Sure the Home Is Not In Foreclosure
Ask the landlord if the property is in foreclosure or going into foreclosure. Some states, including California, require landlords to inform renters when this happens. If you think the landlord might be hiding something, you can check the current status of the property in the clerk's office at the county courthouse. If the property is in foreclosure, you will find documents showing that a foreclosure suit has been filed. A "notice of default" notation indicates that the landlord has not been making payments and the property is close to foreclosure.
Check for Signs of Criminal Activity
Check public records for civil or criminal suits brought against the landlord, especially suits by tenants. You can check for this information in the county courthouse or research online by visiting the county court's website for the county where the property is located. Search the online database of criminal court records by typing in the landlord's full name. Check for other documents that could provide helpful information about the landlord's character.
Rental property that appears unkempt and neglected could be close to foreclosure since a landlord who expects to lose the property is less likely to put much effort into maintaining the appearance of the building. The neighbors can also provide helpful information about the landlord and the property if they have lived in the area for a long time. Find out how long the previous tenants stayed and why they left, if possible. If the rental property contains multiple units, you could get better information from the other tenants.
Clark County Nevada: 10 Steps to Find Out if Your Rental Home Is in Foreclosure
Forbes: Five Ways You Should be Screening Potential Landlords
Nolo: California Landlords Must Notify Prospective Tenants of Foreclosure
Tina Amo has been writing business-related content since 2006. Her articles appear on various well-known websites. Amo holds a Bachelor of Science in business administration with a concentration in information systems.
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1 How to See if a Tenant Has Been Evicted Before
2 Most Common Complaints From Landlords About Tenants
3 Landlord Rights in the Abandonment of a Lease
4 How to Handle Bad Landlords