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It's tough out there for new landlords. The business is hard enough to get into considering rent collection, lease enforcement, tenant management, extensive paperwork, and other tough skills that other jobs don't have. But on top of that, landlords have to face social pressures.
While some people would like you to believe that it's inclusive to allow criminals to live in your building, we're here to tell you that it's not a good idea. If you run a tenant criminal background check and find out a client has a criminal history, you should stay as far away from them as possible.
If you need some more reasons why you've come to the right place. This article will walk you through the reason why anyone in the property management business should stay away from leasing to tenants with criminal backgrounds in Atlanta.
Repeat Offenders Are Common
Unfortunately, certain parts of Atlanta have a crime problem. Law enforcement officials understand that a large reason why this crime problem exists is repeat offenders.
Once criminals have gotten into the world of crime, it's tough for them to get out. They've crossed boundaries most people have not crossed. They also likely have certain friends that could pull them back into the criminal world.
While it's nice to believe in the best in people, it's strictly a matter of business to keep them out of your building. You don't want to do business with someone who's going to be carted away to jail.
You Can Be Held Accountable
The U.S. government takes drug abuse seriously. When we let a culture of drug abuse thrive, it winds up in the hands of children and in the homes of non-criminals. Because of this, the U.S. holds landlords accountable for the potential drug usage/dealing of their tenants.
It's your job to make sure that your tenants aren't conducting any legal activity. Always keep on the lookout for drug usage and dealing. If you notice a sudden increase in the use of utilities and a large number of people coming in and out of the building for short visits, you might have a drug dealer on your hands.
It's Bad for Business
Think about it — you want to live with a known criminal? Of course, there's a chance that your other tenants won't find out about this tenant's criminal background, but if they are dealing drugs, they won't appreciate the smells, the constant visits, and the noise it might cause.
Check out this page for more important lessons in the world of property management.
Follow Your Tenant Criminal Background Check
If you conduct a tenant criminal background check and find that your applicant has a criminal background, it's best to stay away. They're likely to commit crime again, and this might lead to legal troubles for you, and will generally be bad for business.
For more information, contact us today.
