Inman

Rent Rite Directory adds tenant screening

A national website that offers a free, searchable database of problem tenants for real estate brokers, agents, property managers, and landlords is now offering tenant screening services.

Dallas-based Rent Rite Directory (RRD) launched in July 2010. The site’s free incident reporting database tracks the records of tenants’ previous residences and allows real estate professionals and landlords to share information on tenants who violate lease terms, including those who skip out on rent; have a history of late payments; destroy property; perpetrate crimes on site; pose as a "proxy" resident for someone else, often a criminal or someone otherwise unqualified; or commit other lease violations.

The database also includes incidents of evictions filed, but not completed, and therefore not otherwise reported, the site said.

As of mid-April, RRD is also offering tenant screening services that combine information from the incident reporting database with national credit and criminal background checks.

Tenant screening packages are customizable and reports are available a la carte. Pre-set packages run from $16 to $36.50. An "auto-approved" tenant screening for agents or owners with between one and 20 units is $25 and includes a recommendation to "pass," "fail," or "pass with conditions."

"With the launch of our new services and our plans for future integrations, our goal for the RRD is to become the one-stop shop for all leasing needs throughout the United States. We understand that peaceful communities drive business for residential and commercial property owners, and our tools certainly help create those communities with an impact that is reflected in the fiscal bottom line," said Joe Killinger, a partner at RRD, in a statement.

RRD also has a neighborhood email alert system that allows police officers to notify property managers and owners in real time when crimes have occurred in their area. The system incorporated Amber Alerts for missing children at the end of last year.