Background Checks Protect Your Property and Your Other Tenants
Financial screening — credit and income — tells you whether an applicant can pay. Background checks tell you whether they pose other risks: safety concerns for your property and other tenants, a history of eviction filings that predict future eviction, or identity fraud. These are different categories of risk and they require different verification methods.
A comprehensive background check for tenant screening typically includes a criminal history search, eviction records search, sex offender registry check, and identity verification. Some screening services bundle all of these together. Others offer them as separate components. Either way, running all four gives you the most complete risk picture.
Criminal History
Criminal background checks search court records for arrests and convictions. The scope varies by provider — some search county-level records, others search statewide databases, and the most comprehensive search federal records as well. For tenant screening, a statewide search covering at least the past seven years is a reasonable standard for most landlords.
What you find on a criminal background check requires careful, legally compliant evaluation. You cannot use a blanket "no criminal history" policy — HUD guidance and many state laws require individualized assessment that considers the nature of the offense, how long ago it occurred, and whether it's relevant to the tenancy. A ten-year-old misdemeanor for disorderly conduct is not the same risk factor as a recent conviction for property destruction or violent crime.
Focus on offenses that directly relate to tenancy risk: property crimes (vandalism, burglary, arson), violent crimes (especially if the applicant would be living near other tenants), drug manufacturing or distribution (which can cause property damage and attract dangerous activity), and fraud or identity theft (which may indicate the applicant isn't who they claim to be). Minor, old, or unrelated offenses should be weighed much less heavily.
Arrests without convictions generally should not be used as a basis for denial. An arrest is an allegation, not proof of wrongdoing. Using arrest records in housing decisions is legally risky in many jurisdictions and may violate Fair Housing law if it disproportionately impacts protected classes. See the Fair Housing guide for more on this.
Eviction Records
An eviction history search checks court records for eviction filings involving the applicant. This is arguably the most directly relevant background check for landlords because it shows exactly what you're trying to avoid: a history of tenancy failures that resulted in legal proceedings.
A single eviction filing is a significant red flag, but context matters. When did it occur? Five years ago during a documented financial crisis is different from six months ago. What was the outcome? A filing that was dismissed or resulted in a negotiated move-out is different from a judgment for thousands in unpaid rent and damages. Does the applicant have an explanation that's supported by the other screening data?
Multiple eviction filings are a pattern. Regardless of the circumstances, an applicant with two or more eviction filings in the past five years has demonstrated a recurring inability to maintain tenancy. The specifics of each case matter less than the pattern itself. Patterns repeat.
Some states restrict the use of eviction records — how far back you can look, whether you can consider filings that didn't result in judgment, and whether sealed records can be accessed. Know your state's rules before making decisions based on eviction history.
Identity Verification
Identity verification confirms that the person applying is who they say they are. This step catches identity fraud — applicants using a stolen or fabricated identity to pass screening checks that their real identity would fail. It also catches applicants using someone else's Social Security number to generate a credit report that doesn't reflect their actual history.
Basic identity verification cross-references the applicant's name, date of birth, Social Security number, and address history. Most screening services include this as part of their standard package. Additional verification can include a photo ID check against the person who appears for the showing and lease signing — a simple step that catches obvious impersonation.
Background checks are the safety layer on top of your financial screening. Combine them with credit analysis, income evaluation, and behavioral observations, then run the complete data set through your scoring framework. For recommendations on background check services and providers, visit this comprehensive screening resource.
What Background Checks Miss
No background check is comprehensive. County court records may not be digitized or may be incomplete. An applicant who committed offenses in another state may not appear in your state's records unless you run a multi-state or national search. Juvenile records are sealed. Some eviction cases are resolved informally without court filings. An applicant who was a terrible tenant but was never formally evicted won't show up in eviction searches — which is why landlord references remain essential even when you're running background checks.
Think of background checks as one layer of a multi-layer screening process. They catch the risks that are documented in public records. Landlord references catch the risks that happened but were never formally recorded. Behavioral signals catch the risks that haven't happened yet but are predictable based on current behavior. No single layer catches everything. Together, they form a net that catches most of the problems before they become your problems.