Backgound check- In Canada and US

Tenant Screening, Landlord Screening, Online Tenant Screening, Tenant Screening Checks, and Tenant Screening Credit Checks

Information accessible to every landlord

This blog is the result of countless hours of research over the internet. We have tried to put together some of the services that you as a landlord would need.. Criminal and Credit check, free advertising of your property, Collection agency, Security cameras, legal forms, informational web site for each of the states in the US and in Canada to cover all the laws concerning Landlord and Tenants, etc. Each week I will try to add more and more useful information that applies to landlords. I have rental property in both the US and Canada. Read about my nightmare tenant and you'll see why it is important to follow all the steps. Taking the time now, will eliminate future financial headaches. I will post as many tips to help you out as I can. There is nothing like a nightmare tenant to motivate a landlord to put the case on the internet. After winning my case against this tenant I decided to make my case public. Although I won, I still cannot collect my overdue rent and legal fees in excess of $12,000,-- In addition I put the amounts owed through small claims court and only claimed $10,000. This amount will forever be in his file. The important issue, we were able to evict him. Nothing worse than a tenant who is not paying and you unable to evict him. Read my story and you'll see why.

Friday, September 28, 2012

Can a tenant be evicted in the winter?


Can a tenant be evicted in the winter?
Yes. There is nothing in the Residential Tenancies Act that prevents a tenant from being evicted during the winter months.
For what reasons can a landlord evict a tenant?
There are different reasons for evicting a tenant.
For some reasons, a landlord can only evict a tenant at the end of the tenancy agreement (at the end of a lease) – in most of these situations, the tenant has not done anything wrong, but the landlord needs the unit back.
Other reasons allow a landlord to evict a tenant in the middle of their tenancy agreement or lease– these are generally situations where the tenant or someone the tenant let into their building has done something wrong.  For example, the tenant has not paid their rent or has damaged the rental property.

Thursday, September 27, 2012

Can the landlord refuse to rent to a person if they have a pet?


Can the landlord refuse to rent to a person if they have a pet?
Yes, if a landlord has a “no pets” policy and they learn that a person applying to rent an apartment has a pet, the landlord may refuse to rent to that person. 
The Residential Tenancies Act states that any clause in a lease that prohibits pets is void.  This means that once a person becomes a tenant, if they have a pet even though the lease says pets are not allowed, the landlord cannot evict the tenant just for having the pet.  However, the Landlord can apply to the Board to evict a tenant if the pet is causing a problem.


Can a landlord evict a tenant for having a pet?
A tenant can be evicted for having a pet in their unit only if:
  • the pet is making too much noise, damaging the unit, or causing an allergic reaction, or
  • the animal or species is considered to be inherently dangerous. 
Even if the tenancy agreement has a ‘no pets’ rule in it, the tenant cannot be evicted just for having a pet unless the Board decides in an order that the pet is causing a problem, or that the pet is inherently dangerous

Wednesday, September 26, 2012

Tuesday, September 25, 2012

NON SUFFICIENT FUNDS CHARGES


Non-Sufficient Funds Charges
Under section 87 of the RTA, where a landlord applies for an order for the payment of arrears of rent, the application may include a claim for the amount of NSF charges paid to a financial institution in respect of cheques tendered to the landlord by the tenant, plus the landlord’s administrative charges in respect of those cheques.  The administrative charges are limited to a maximum of $20.00 per cheque per section 17 of Regulation 516/06.
These charges, if claimed, will normally be awarded and, if the order terminates the tenancy, the tenant will have to pay these amounts in addition to the other amounts payable in order to avoid eviction.  See also the section below on Amount Payable to Prevent an Eviction.
Although a landlord may apply for NSF charges, they cannot be claimed in an N4 notice of termination.  Under subsection 59(3) of the RTA, a notice of termination is void if the tenant pays the arrears and the additional rent that has become owing.  There is no requirement for the tenant to pay NSF charges to void the notice. Therefore, including NSF charges on an N4 will likely invalidate the notice.

Monday, September 24, 2012

Rent receipts


Rent receipts
A landlord must give the tenant a receipt for any rent payment, rent deposit or other charge, if the tenant asks for one.

A landlord must also give a former tenant a receipt if that person asks for one within 12 months after the end of their tenancy.

The landlord cannot charge a fee for giving a receipt.

Sunday, September 23, 2012

FREE FORM- INSPECTION FORM to be used when moving in or out of the apartment or house

Looking for a form that is absolutely free. No hassles, no hidden fees, no writing across the whole form so that you cannot use them and definitely no need to submit your email address or become a member.  You need a form for the tenant to sign when they move in to indicate the condition of the apartment, appliances etc.  This is a three page document that every tenant and landlord should have on file.  |It is not necessary but it is a good idea.

The same form can be used when moving out.  I have created two documents that are basically identical--the only difference is that one is signed when moving in and the other when they move out.
To access this form just click on MOVING IN INSPECTION FORM  and for MOVING OUT INSPECTION FORM TO ACESS THEM.  They are Excel files and you will need excel to access them.  As soon as I have time I will try and get either PDF or Microsoft word files.
Good Luck and don't hesitate to leave any comments on the use of these forms.

Saturday, September 22, 2012

Looking for a Company that covers both Canada and United States for Tenant Screening- This is it




Tenant Screening, Landlord Screening, Online Tenant Screening, Tenant Screening Checks, and Tenant Screening Credit Checks                    title="Tenant Screening, Tenant Verification Screening, Rental Credit Checks, and Background Screening Services">







Membership

How TVS membership works:


  1. You must Sign Up to become a member; there is no cost for this. However, there is a membership & confidentiality agreement that you need to review and agree to before you can use the Service. TVS must establish your Identity and your permissible purpose for obtaining Consumer information.
  2. You must provide documents as per the membership application confirming rental property ownership and documents that identify who you are before the account can be activated.
    NOTICE: TVS requires documentation in Compliance with Credit Bureau Policy

    Please see below which documents are required from you:


    Landlord

    Landlord1. Current telephone or cellular bill. MUST be current and list your name, current residence, and the phone number listed on your application (check our FAQs for exceptions).
    2. Proof of identification (valid driver's license or Passport)
    3. Proof of ownership for the rental property (two of the following documents: Deed, Insurance Declaration, Mortgage Statement, Title or Transfer Papers, Settlement Statement, Escrow, Utility, Purchase and Sales Agreement)

    IMPORTANT: If your residence and rental property address are the same, please contact TVS prior to filling out a membership application to find out what documents are required.

    Property Manager

    Property Manager1. Property Management Agreement which is signed by you and the Property Owner (If you are doing this on behalf of a friend, please click here to see what is required).
    2. Clear copy of your valid driver's license or Passport
    3. Copy of a valid business license (if applicable)
    4. Current telephone or cellular bill. MUST be current and list your name, current residence, and the phone number listed on your application (check our FAQs for exceptions).

  3. The turn around time for the reports that you order online is 2-3 minutes and they are posted to your account on the website.
  4. Review the Operating Instructions that you will receive immediately after sign up.
  5. TVS will activate your account when documents are received. If application or documents are submitted after Office hours, TVS will activate you the next business day. Also note that the documents need to show the rental property address and your name (they need to be clear enough so TVS Operators can read them).
    TIP: When photocopying documents, set the photocopier to light, particularly for a Driver's License.