Landlords seem to have a lot of personal agency in the apartment-leasing business. As a result, they can and will learn as much as possible about you before allowing you to sign a contract. This includes everything from your income, your job, and even your credit score. All of these things can determine whether or not you will have a decent place to live. 

With so much power at their disposal, it seems like a one-sided deal. What if you could even things out a bit and make sure your prospective landlord is worth their salt? Do they skimp on repairs? Are they fair with how they conduct business? Do they keep their nose out of the affairs of others? 

If you have ever wondered if you could conduct a background check of your own on a landlord in question, then there's good news on the horizon. You can initiate your own background check with modern, up-to-date reverse search tools, such as Information.com. You'll be able to learn a lot about an individual from the comfort of your own home, all via publically-available records and data sources. 

This article will cover how you can best background check a prospective landlord before fully committing to a lease. If you have ever wanted to know how to put some of the power back in your hands when it comes to searching for adequate living conditions, then read on.

The Landlord Background Check Process: A Few Tips

You are far from powerless when it comes to screening a new landlord. Technology has connected us in more ways than one in this digital age, and a lot can be done from home or with a small amount of legwork before ever meeting the landlord in person. Here are a few things you can do to gather intel on a property owner before letting go of months of your hard-earned income on someone who might not have your best interests in mind.

Look Up Public Records

Public records are going to be your main source of information in the landlord background check process. Reverse search engines like Information.com will give you the most streamlined access to everything you need regarding public records, including criminal records, bankruptcy, tax records, lawsuits, and even property foreclosures. 

Talk to Current and Previous Tenants

Talk to other tenants that reside in properties owned by the landlord in question you are researching. This is an easy way to get valuable information on how well the landlord treats other tenants, how fair they are, whether or not they make necessary repairs on time, and a lot more. If current residents aren't happy with how things are, they will most likely be agreeable to filling you in on the gritty details.

Social media can also tell you some things about a landlord at times. For example, if the property owner has a history of being unfair or mistreating people, then previous tenants can be extremely vocal about their bad experiences on social media. 

Additionally, if your landlord is part of a greater property management company, you may want to check out what the Better Business Bureau and your area's Chamber of Commerce have to say about them.

Check the Outside Appearance of Properties

Do the residences in question appear to be in good shape, or are they withering away because of neglect? You can learn a lot about the depth of a landlord's ethics (or lack thereof) through the aesthetic qualities of their rental properties. Is it a clean and orderly area, or is it more akin to a landfill than a liveable area? 

Questions to Ask Your Prospective Landlord

If your landlord background check has gone well and you think that they are a good fit for your needs, then an in-person meetup is the next logical step. Here are a few things to keep in mind during this interview process.

The Length of Lease and Penalties If The Lease Is Broken

Landlords can vary on lease lengths depending on how they wish to conduct their business. Be sure to get an accurate written statement of how long their leases last. Also, make sure to find out what penalties you could incur for breaking the hypothetical lease on the off-chance your landlord turns out to be a bad fit later. Sometimes, breaking a lease is a better alternative than taking a few more months of additional punishment. Know your wiggle room, and prepare a contingency plan just in case.

Who Do You Call When Something Breaks?

Maintenance policies are crucial to know, especially if you don't have the know-how to fix everything under the sun. Learn who the best person to call in an emergency might be ahead of time. The worst moment to find this out is while a crisis is happening in real-time.

What Is the Pet Policy?

In some places, pets aren't even allowed, period. Get the details on pets and any of the various fees that go into having them in a rental property. This is often an area that is far too overlooked by individuals. Pet owners can end up paying huge dollars because of an improperly housebroken dog or cat. 

Conclusion

Never again do you have to be fully in thrall to a malicious landlord. With today's technology and resources, you can find (almost) everything you could have ever desired on a rental property owner before signing on the dotted line. 

For even more instruction behind the tips listed here in this article, visit Information.com and check out their in-depth instructions on how best to conduct your landlord background check today. A little bit of effort now will go a long way toward preserving your sanity in the long run.