The Importance of Names in Tenant Screening
Names: The Foundation
Bemrose Consulting agents are proficient at uncovering information applicants may not disclose, but the process hinges on knowledge of every iteration of their name. Misspellings or missing aliases may lead to overlooked details that can affect both landlord and the applicant.
How Names Could be Missed
Many application forms lack a question regarding past name changes
Applicants may not answer out of ignorance or to hide negative information
Legal name changes may not appear in some states’ civil searches
Double surnames often appear on ID, but not always on the application
Poor handwriting could lead to data entry errors (misspellings)
The Risks of Misspelled or Undisclosed Names
If any of these occur, all areas of the screening could be affected:
Credit
A misreported or underreported name may prevent us from retrieving credit, as it could be filed under a different variation. This could hide negative credit history (like landlord debt), or positive (like a mortgage or high FICO score). It could also result in fewer references for the applicant, as we always research addresses on the credit report dated within the last 5 years.
Employment/Rental History
Employers and landlords may have record of the applicant under a different name, hindering their ability to identify them for a verification.
Criminal/Eviction Records
Any variation in name can obscure both eviction and criminal records, due to the spelling-sensitive nature of database searches. It is also not uncommon for individuals to change their names to distance themselves from a criminal past.
How You Can Help Us Avoid These Risks
Ensure the ID is Sent
When we suspect an applicant may have a longer, alternate spelling for, or previous name, we can corroborate this with their ID. Ensuring the applicant provides the ID prevents name-related issues early in the process.
Be Thorough, and Ask!
Before you send an application, clarify with the applicant if they have ever changed their name. The sooner we know about past names the less likely we are to miss them. This also prevents us from having to recontact landlords/employers who claimed to have no record of the applicant, or redo criminal/eviction searches when an alias is discovered— shortening the turnaround time.
If you have questions, feel free to reach out to us at 503-419-6539 or customerservice@bemroseconsulting.com. Thank you for the opportunity to partner together!
DISCLAIMER: READ CAREFULLY: The information provided in this article is not considered legal advice and is given only for information purposes. ALWAYS SEEK THE ADVICE OF YOUR LEGAL COUNSEL.