tenant screening Archives - Page 2 of 3

Questions and Answers for August 2016

First Published August 22nd, 2016 | Updated April 24th, 2023 Posted in advice, discrimination, laws, 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

First Published June 10th, 2016 | Updated April 20th, 2023 Posted in laws, News, tenant screening

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

First Published May 2nd, 2016 | Updated April 14th, 2023 Posted in laws, tenant screening

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?

First Published April 23rd, 2016 | Updated October 1st, 2026 Posted in Crime, laws, News, policy, tenant screening

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

First Published March 15th, 2016 | Updated April 28th, 2023 Posted in policy, tenant screening

The AirBnB saga: A source of angst for the hotel lobby and for some landlords in particular.

Using credit reports for tenant screening

Posted on October 24th, 2015 Posted in advice, tenant screening

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?

First Published August 16th, 2015 | Updated April 14th, 2023 Posted in tenant screening

"What My Landlord Learned About Me From Twitter" gives insight into a new and potentially insightful screening technique.

FICO Scores Correlate with Age

First Published August 13th, 2015 | Updated April 14th, 2023 Posted in tenant screening

The major reasons for good credit vary with age.

A Recommended Screening Service

First Published July 31st, 2015 | Updated April 14th, 2023 Posted in advice, tenant screening

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 on July 23rd, 2015 Posted in advice, tenant screening

The most important advice you will ever hear: engage in dialog. Useful especially when a tenant has a medical marijuana card.