Tenant screening is a critical step toward a landlord’s successful relationship with a tenant. Recognizing this, the Wisconsin legislature is making it easier for tenant screening information to make into the hands of landlords who need it most.
In the past, local ordinances and laws have made it difficult for landlords to have access to important information regarding a tenant’s previous rental history, credit information, criminal history and other details. But a new statewide law makes it illegal for any city, town, village or county to enforce such ordinances that keep necessary tenant screening information under cover.
The law makes it clear that landlords are free to obtain and use any of the following information with respect to a tenant or prospective tenant: Monthly household income; employment information; rental history; credit report; court records related to criminal history, including arrest and conviction records, to which there is public access; and identifying information such as a Social Security number.
Those in the Wisconsin legislature clearly understand that landlords are not trying to violate a person’s privacy rights by obtaining this information. On the contrary, they’re just trying to protect their own assets and make the most intelligent decision for their business interests (without unlawfully discriminating against anyone, of course). Hopefully more states will follow suit.
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Finally a legislative decision that supports the real estate investor and landlord. You could not have said it better. These checks are done to protect our investments and also to be sure we aren't renting to deadbeats bent to destroy the property and never pay. Thumbs up to the state of Wisconsin!
ReplyDeleteDJ Meister