In Washington, the three-year recidivism rate is 30.7%. Recidivism refers to a convicted criminal's tendency to re-offend or repeat a crime.
That high rate should be enough reason to always conduct a thorough tenant criminal background check on all your prospective renters. After all, the last thing you want is to let someone with a history of violent or severe crimes into your property in Bellevue, WA.
To that end, we created this guide on how a criminal record check works when screening applicants. Read on for tips to improve your tenant screening process.
Performing a Tenant Criminal Background Check
The first step is to familiarize yourself with Washington tenant screening laws. You, the landlord, have the right to screen tenants, but they also have the right to know what you'll screen them for. So, you must put into writing all the checks you'll perform, as well as the screening costs you'll charge.
Inform applicants that, aside from a criminal background check, you'll do the following tenant screening steps:
- Running a credit check
- Confirming their employment or income
- Conducting tenant history verification by contacting previous landlords
Once you have your prospective tenants' consent, you can begin the screening process. You can use the Washington Access to Criminal History (WATCH) program. It offers online criminal background check services at a national level.
Alternatively, you can partner with a professional property management company in Bellevue, WA. They can do the background checks on your behalf.
What Criminal Background Checks Reveal
The WATCH program lets you access records of criminal convictions. It also provides information about registered sex or kidnapping offenders.
If you hire a property management company, they'll give you the same information. However, they'll also search the International Terrorism Database for possible hits.
A property manager can also provide a more in-depth look into your applicants' backgrounds. Their comprehensive tenant screening policies include all necessary background checks.
Using the Results
In Washington, criminal convictions can be for misdemeanors or felonies. Misdemeanors are less severe; examples are parking violations and disorderly conduct. Felonies, which can be class A, B, or C, are more serious, with class A being the worst (e.g., kidnapping and sex-related crime).
Now, let's say you discover that an applicant had a parking violation conviction. Their conviction occurred many years ago, and they have no other record. In that case, it shouldn't significantly affect their eligibility for tenancy.
However, you should be careful of those with recent or repetitive convictions for property or violent crimes.
Let PMI Arka Screen Your Tenants
A tenant criminal background check can help you gauge an applicant's eligibility for tenancy. It can tell you if they're trustworthy or if they can endanger your property, other tenants, or the community. So, please don't ever skip this step.
Instead, rely on PMI Arka for full-service property management in Bellevue, WA. We can market your property, screen tenants, enforce leases, collect rent, and oversee maintenance. We're also proud to be part of PMI, the largest U.S. property management franchise network managing over $52 billion of assets.
So, contact us today to learn more about our services and to get your free property valuation!
