Does a landlord have to run a credit check on all tenants?
Adam asked:
I am moving in with friends who have already been approved and lived at their residence for a while. I am asking to move in with them, but the Landlord is asking for both a credit check AND a rental agreement. Shouldn’t I only have to signe the rental agreement and that’s that?
I live in the Orange County, Ca area.
Thank you for your input, but I am solely looking from a legal point. Any reference to actual codes/ laws would be great.
I am moving in with friends who have already been approved and lived at their residence for a while. I am asking to move in with them, but the Landlord is asking for both a credit check AND a rental agreement. Shouldn’t I only have to signe the rental agreement and that’s that?
I live in the Orange County, Ca area.
Thank you for your input, but I am solely looking from a legal point. Any reference to actual codes/ laws would be great.
Friends ALREADY live there and have been fully approved. I am looking to move in to an existing situation.
CHESTER
September 16th, 2009 at 3:39 pm
LUCIEN
I live in La Palma Ca.Hi neighbor
September 19th, 2009 at 7:07 am
MOHAMMAD
Put yourself in his shoes. Would you want someone who doesn’t pay their bills on time as a tenant. Nothing personal but what do you have to hide? If you have no credit it is better than bad credit so bad credit should be your only hindrance.
September 19th, 2009 at 10:54 am
SON
NOPE, don’t have to, but they certainly have the right to do so. LLs want to know who is moving into their property. Stupid to not do so.
September 21st, 2009 at 8:48 am
DANNY
it does sound excessive since you lived on their property in the past. But in today’s economy, I don’t blame them for asking for a new credit report. And what they are asking is prefectly legal.
September 24th, 2009 at 1:31 pm
MAURICE
No…most landlord want will do a credit/background check on all legal occupants.
Edit: There is no legal statutes one way or the other. Simply a policy of the landlord/management.
September 25th, 2009 at 6:02 am
GRADY
No, if the landlord is asking for a credit check you have to provide one as well as sign the rental agreement.
September 27th, 2009 at 7:52 am
EMIL
It may depend on the particular area or district you live in as it differs from jurisdiction to jurisdiction. It might fit under some sort of privacy violation and you wouldn’t have to submit the information.
Having said that, if you don’t provide them the information they also don’t have to approve you moving in and if you did anyway it would probably nullify the current tenants lease allowing the landlord to evict everyone.
As others have pointed out, the landlord is just protecting themselves, and if you have something to hide their justified in their actions.