Meth Lab Cleanup Is a Cost You Don’t Want to Incur

Methamphetamine is a problem that can destroy lives, bank accounts and families in a very short amount of time. But homemade meth labs are also highly damaging to residential properties. The ingredients used in the manufacturing of meth, when combined, create toxic contaminants that are absorbed into walls, flooring, and ventilation systems.

Once a meth lab is discovered and the residents are arrested, the problem of how to clean up the property falls to the property owner. Cleaning up the toxic contaminants left behind can be a lengthy and expensive process. After a typical meth lab bust, once the police have removed the chemicals and equipment, the local health department writes a condemnation order and orders the property owner to clean up the area. That can cost upwards of $30,000, an expense that is compounded by the owner’s inability to get rental payments out of the property for the month(s) it is uninhabitable due to the cleaning process.

Because the liability is so great when it comes to meth labs, every property owner should be diligent about conducting thorough background checks for all prospective tenants. Look for a history of issues related to substance abuse, check the tenant’s criminal record, and speak with former landlords about the tenant to get landlord references. Remember, screening residents is the first line of defense.

Visit http://www.alwaysscreen.com/ for more information.

Follow ATS, Inc. on Twitter!

Use Same Standards During Each Tenant Screening Process

Selecting a tenant isn’t rocket science, but it can be a complicated, confusing process if you don’t have a set plan in place. Every landlord should have a set list of standards that any prospective tenant must meet in order to be approved to sign the lease and move in. Those standards may differ from landlord to landlord, based on personal preferences, the type of rental unit, and past experiences with tenants. Here are some recommended standards for approving a tenant application:

• The application itself is properly completed.

• The prospective tenant is 18 or older.

• The prospective tenant must prove a monthly income that is three times the amount of the monthly rent.

• There can be no previous evictions on the tenant’s record.

• The tenant has a clean criminal record.

• The tenant’s credit score must be at least XXX.

• The tenant must be currently employed, and undergo a successful employment verification process.

• The tenant’s previous landlord must give a positive recommendation.

Whatever a landlord decides his standards for application approval are, those standards should be written down and checked (twice!) during each tenant screening process for every single applicant. That’s because in the rush to find a tenant — amid the sea of paperwork and reports and the business of collecting fees and applications — it’s easy to overlook a standard or two. It’s easy to forget that you were supposed to call their previous landlord or their current employer. So write down your list of standards and keep it on file to adhere to each and every time.

Follow ATS, Inc. on Twitter!
http://www.alwaysscreen.com/