Questions and Answers for August 2016
| Posted in advice, discrimination, laws, tenant screening - 2 Comments
Where can I read the Massachusetts landlord-tenant laws for myself? Do boa constrictors as pets have any special considerations?
tenant screening
Where can I read the Massachusetts landlord-tenant laws for myself? Do boa constrictors as pets have any special considerations?
HUD Bans Convictions (not just Arrests) as Automatic Disqualifier on Rental Applications
| Posted in laws, News, tenant screening - 1 Comment
Department of Housing and Urban Development bans blanket disqualifications for tenants with criminal convictions; landlords must consider cases individually
Caution: CORI Not in Third-Party Criminal Reports
| Posted in laws, tenant screening - 0 Comments
If you pay for a third party criminal check, buyer beware! Massachusetts, Wyoming, Delaware, and South Dakota all restrict release of criminal records.
Hey Man, Can We Smoke Weed Here?
| Posted in Crime, laws, News, policy, tenant screening - 1 Comment
Massachusetts voters may have to decide this coming November whether to legalize cannabis (marijuana) in the way that alcohol is legal.
The Ongoing AirBnB Saga
| Posted in policy, tenant screening - 1 Comment
The AirBnB saga: A source of angst for the hotel lobby and for some landlords in particular.
Using credit reports for tenant screening
Posted in advice, tenant screening - 2 Comments
The first step to protect your rental property is screening every applicant. Credit reports are useful but may require inspections & adverse action letters.
Are Your Next Tenants Tweeting About Their Bad Behavior?
| Posted in tenant screening - 0 Comments
"What My Landlord Learned About Me From Twitter" gives insight into a new and potentially insightful screening technique.
FICO Scores Correlate with Age
| Posted in tenant screening - 0 Comments
The major reasons for good credit vary with age.
A Recommended Screening Service
| Posted in advice, tenant screening - 0 Comments
If you have fewer than four vacancies a year, SmartScreen is the cheapest way to get real credit data.
What to do if a tenant has a Medical Marijuana card
Posted in advice, tenant screening - 1 Comment
The most important advice you will ever hear: engage in dialog. Useful especially when a tenant has a medical marijuana card.