Renters Running Background Checks On Landlords

A criminal past or financial trouble could put a landlord on a city’s blacklist.

Charlotte doesn’t have a list yet, but more renters are doing background checks on potential landlords.

“We’ve got a lot of landlords out there who are trying to get people into their homes, not because they want to be landlords… but because they can’t pay their mortgages,” said Kerestan.

Judi Kerestan manages over 100 properties in the Charlotte-area. She says more renters are asking personal questions about potential landlords and doing their own background checks for protection.

“When you’re leasing a property, what rights do you really have? It’s scary. You’re giving someone your money every month and you don’t know if they’re paying their mortgage. These days, truthfully, a lot of people aren’t,” said Kerestan.

With the landlord’s full name and date of birth, a tenant can do their own background check and find out anything from the landlord’s criminal history to the property they own.

Those who want a very detailed background check hire a professional.

“You’re going to get the criminal and civil history and maybe some assets they have,” said Keith Hollen, owner of Eagle Eye Detective Agency.