As a landlord, finding the right tenant for your rental property is crucial to the success of your rental business. That’s why tenant screening is an essential part of the rental process. Unfortunately, some tenant lies on their rental application to secure a rental property. Lying on a rental application is a serious offense, and it can lead to a host of problems for landlords, including property damage, missed rent payments, and legal issues. Therefore, it’s essential to take steps to verify the information provided by potential tenants to ensure that they meet your rental requirements and are trustworthy, reliable, and responsible. In this blog post, we’ll discuss what you should do if you suspect that a tenant has lied on their application, and how tenant screening can help you avoid renting to untrustworthy or unreliable tenants.
The Most Common Tenant Application Lies
Unfortunately, it is not uncommon for tenants to lie on their rental applications. Here are some of the most common tenant application lies:
- Income: One of the most frequent lies is about income. Tenants may exaggerate their income to appear more financially stable and able to afford the rent.
- Employment: Another common lie is about employment. Tenants may provide false information about their current or past employment, such as the duration of their employment or the salary they received.
- Rental history: Tenants may provide a false rental history, including their previous addresses or landlords, to hide negative rental experiences such as late payments or evictions.
- Criminal history: Tenants may omit or downplay their criminal history to avoid being disqualified from renting a property.
- Pets: Some tenants may lie about having pets or the number of pets they have to avoid pet deposits or fees.
- Smoking: Similarly, some tenants may lie about smoking to avoid being disqualified from renting a non-smoking property.
Landlords need to verify the information provided by tenants to avoid future problems. Conducting a background check, contacting references, and requesting proof of income can help confirm the information on the application.
If a landlord discovers that a tenant has lied on their application, they should take appropriate action, such as terminating the lease or seeking legal advice. Landlords must protect their property and financial interests, and lying on a rental application is a violation of trust and can lead to severe consequences for both parties involved.
Why tenants may lie on their rental application
While tenant screening is crucial to finding the right tenant, some tenants may still choose to lie on their rental application. There are several reasons why tenants may be motivated to do so. For instance, tenants may have a poor credit history or a criminal record, and they believe that lying on their application is the only way to secure a rental property.
Additionally, some tenants may exaggerate their income or employment status to make themselves appear more financially stable. Others may lie about their rental history to hide past evictions. Or to make it appear as though they have a better rental record than they actually do. Regardless of the reason, tenants who lie on their rental applications can pose a significant risk to landlords. And it’s essential to take steps to verify the information provided to protect your rental business.
If you suspect that a tenant has lied on their application. It’s important to take the necessary steps to protect yourself as a landlord.
Important steps to protect yourself as a landlord
Review the Application to know if the tenant lies on their application
The first step in verifying the information provided by a tenant is to carefully review their rental application. Look for any inconsistencies or discrepancies in the application, such as gaps in employment or rental history. Also, pay attention to any red flags that may indicate that the tenant is lying. It includes exaggerated income or employment history.
Contact the References
Contacting the tenant’s references is another important step in verifying the information provided on the application. Reach out to previous landlords or employers to verify the tenant’s rental and employment history. When contacting references, ask specific questions about the tenant’s behavior and character to get a better sense of whether they would be a good fit for your rental property.
Conduct a Background Check
A background check can help verify the tenant’s information and provide additional insight into their background. A comprehensive background check should include a criminal history check, credit check, and eviction history check. It can reveal any criminal convictions or financial issues that the tenant may have omitted on their application.
Consult a Lawyer
If you suspect that a tenant has lied on their application, it’s important to consult a lawyer who specializes in landlord-tenant law. A lawyer can help you understand your legal options. And provide guidance on the best course of action. Depending on the severity of the lies on the application. You may be able to terminate the lease or evict the tenant.
Terminate the Lease if the tenant lies on their application
If you determine that the tenant has lied on their application, you may need to terminate their lease. Terminating a lease can be a complicated process, and it’s important to follow the legal procedures for eviction and termination of the lease. Consult with a lawyer to ensure that you’re following the correct legal procedures.
Take Preventative Measures to avoid tenant lies on their application
It’s essential to implement preventative measures to prevent future instances of tenants lying on their applications. Some preventative measures landlords can take include:
Thoroughly screening all applicants: Landlords should conduct thorough background checks and verify all information provided on the application.
Requiring references: Landlords can request references from previous landlords or employers to verify the tenant’s rental and employment history.
Using a standardized rental application: Landlords can use a standardized rental application that requests the same information from all applicants.
Implementing penalties for lying on applications: Landlords can include language in the lease agreement that outlines penalties for tenants who provide false information on their applications.
Hiring a Property Manager
Hiring a property manager like ProRealty can be beneficial in avoiding tenants who lie on their applications. Property managers have experience in screening tenants. They can also conduct thorough background checks to verify the information provided on the application. And can also handle lease termination and eviction proceedings if necessary.
Takeaway
In conclusion, when a tenant lies on their application, it can create problems for landlords that range from financial losses to legal disputes. Thus, landlords must take action to protect their property and financial interests. The most common lies on rental applications are about income, employment, rental history, criminal history, pets, and smoking.
To prevent future problems, landlords must conduct thorough tenant screening and verify the information provided on the application through background checks, contacting references, and requesting proof of income. If a tenant lies on their application, landlords should consult a lawyer and take appropriate legal action, such as lease termination or eviction.
Taking action when a tenant lies on their application is essential to maintain trust and integrity in the landlord-tenant relationship. By implementing preventative measures and seeking legal guidance when necessary, landlords can avoid future instances of tenants lying on their applications and ensure a successful rental experience.
