Although there are benefits to renting out your home, there are also risks and obligations. One of the best ways to guarantee the safety and security of your property and the neighbourhood is to have your tenant verify their police record. Tenant police verification online is now a more effective and convenient method, mostly due to technological advancements. This post will explain the need for tenant police verification, take you through the online process, and provide practical tips for landlords.
For your security, this safeguarding procedure—which includes having your tenants verified by the police—must be correctly followed. If you are renting out your property without taking these precautionary measures, you can run into problems later on.
It is legally required of landlords to verify their tenants’ identities with the police. Section-188 of the Indian Penal Code (IPC) deals with the breach of an order validly declared by a public authority. A conviction carries a potential sentence of “simple imprisonment for a term which may extend to one month or a monetary penalty of Rs 200”.
Since there is little financial risk, people typically disregard the law and fail to observe it. Based on the appearance, the landlord appears to be satisfied with the renter, therefore the challenge of adhering to the protocol may be overlooked.Is the possible damage a renter could cause to the landlord or the property something that the landlord takes into account?
If everything is in order, a landlord may nevertheless face charges or accusations.
Landlords frequently overlook the significance of tenant screening and renting out their properties without carrying out the required legal due diligence. This poses a risk not just to the property but also to your safety as a landlord. Should your tenant get implicated in any illegal activity, you may be held accountable for this carelessness.
How does verification by the police help?
Police verification can be useful in the ways listed below:
Illegal activities on-site: It’s common to observe young working professionals, bachelor, and college students wanting privacy or living alone. They like throwing parties, doing drugs, and drinking on their property. A few cohabitate with their partners. Tenants no longer engage in such activities on the property after police verification is finished out of fear of being arrested.
It facilitates criminal tracking: It is quite simple to find the fleeing offender and those who plot a horrible crime in a leased apartment or flat. The tenant’s fear of a police trial ensures that there are very few opportunities for criminal activity after he has given his identity evidence.
Police verification can be useful in the ways listed below:
Illegal activities on-site: It’s common to observe young working professionals, bachelor, and college students wanting privacy or living alone. They like throwing parties, doing drugs, and drinking on their property. A few cohabitate with their partners. Tenants no longer engage in such activities on the property after police verification is finished out of fear of being arrested.
It facilitates criminal tracking: It is quite simple to find the fleeing offender and those who plot a horrible crime in a leased apartment or flat. The tenant’s fear of a police trial ensures that there are very few opportunities for criminal activity after he has given his identity evidence.
Essential Steps to make sure the Tenant is Trustworthy
Police Verification
For tenant verification, you can obtain a Police Verification Form online. Before giving the tenants the keys to the house or apartment, landlords should download this form and deliver it to them for verification. In the provided form, the tenant must fill in his original name, father’s name, permanent residence, and other pertinent details. It authenticates a tenant and facilitates the landlord’s ability to quickly call the police in the event of a disagreement.
Background Checks
Checking the renter’s background is the first and most important step in tenant verification. A background check could be able to tell you whether your tenant has a history of failing to pay rent or damaging rented property.
Get In Touch With Your Tenant’s Old Landlord
Check with the tenant’s prior landlords whether he has resided in the same area or city. It is also possible to find out the previous employer’s phone number and address. To ensure that the candidate is trustworthy enough for you to rent out your property, feel free to ask any pertinent questions.
Request The Individual References
Additionally, the landlord may request one or two personal references, whom he may contact to inquire about and confirm the tenant’s information. A reliable way to confirm the tenancy is through family and friends. Renters may not feel comfortable disclosing their parents’ phone numbers, so you may not always obtain all the information, even if the renter has no criminal histories and is willing to provide a few references. To preserve a record in this case, it is preferable to ask for friends’ phone numbers or coworkers’ information.
Documents Needed for Tenant Verification
A vital written agreement that has been approved and signed by the landowner and the tenant is part of the police tenant verification procedure. You must be aware of the essential paperwork needed for the tenant verification process with the police in order for the contract to be legally binding. These are the following:
- Evidence showing the landlord’s ownership of the home or property in order to validate their authority and right to rent the space out.
- It is important to make sure that utility bills have been paid so that the new tenant is not responsible for paying past due amounts.
- In a colony or society, a NOC, or No-Objection Certificate, is crucial so that the residents don’t have any problems, as when they rent out the space with pets.
- When renting a property, proof of address is required in order to confirm the tenant’s permanent address.
Prior to completing the tenant verification form, run your own background investigation, speak with each applicant one-on-one to build your own opinion, and spend time getting to know the possible tenant.
Get a sense of the tenant by getting in touch with the former landlord; alternatively, the landlord can provide insight into the tenant’s character. You can also inquire about any history of conflict-related disruptions that he or she may have caused. If you would like to check the tenant’s references, you can also give their friends and relatives a call to see what kind of atmosphere and social circle they are a part of.
How to Verify Tenant Information Online
Step 1: Go to the Official Police Website
There may be a different official police website for online services in each state or city. For instance, you would go to the Mumbai Police website for Mumbai and the Delhi Police website for Delhi. Look for the online tenant police verification service on the relevant website.
Step 2: Complete the Rent Police Verification Form
Find the rent verification police form (kirayedar verification) on the internet. The tenant’s complete name, current address, former address, employment history, and other personal data will be needed to fill out this form. You will also need the landlord’s details.
Step 3: Upload the Necessary Document Files
Prepare the necessary documents and upload scanned copies of them. Typically, these consist of:
- Tenant’s proof of identity (passport, voter ID, Aadhaar card, etc.)
- Tenant’s most current passport-size photo
- A copy of the rental agreement
- The proof of identity of the landlord
Step 4: Send in the Application
Submit the application online once the form has been completed and the required papers have been uploaded. To prevent any delays or rejections, double-check that all the details are correct.
Step 5: The Processing Fee Payment
Certain states could charge a small fee to complete the verification process. Usually, you can pay for this online using credit/debit cards, net banking, or other online payment options.
Step 6: Application Tracking
The majority of police websites offer the ability to follow the progress of your request for kirayedar verification. Once the application is submitted, you will receive an application number or reference ID. Make note of this number and use it to frequently monitor the status.
Step 7: Get the Report of Verification
After the background investigation is finished by the police, a verification report is produced. This report will show if there are any red flags or if the tenant has a spotless record. You can obtain the report from the police website or have it emailed to you through email.
How to Verify Tenant Police Information Effectively
- Start Early
As soon as you select a possible tenant, you should start the verification procedure. This guarantees that you will have enough time to deal with any potential problems.
- Notify the Tenant
Make sure you get the tenant’s permission before proceeding with any verification procedures. Maintaining a positive landlord-tenant relationship is facilitated by transparency.
- Keep Records
Keep track of all correspondence and papers pertaining to the verification procedure. This can come in handy later on or in the event of a disagreement.
- Frequent Verification
If a long-term tenant’s career or personal circumstances change, it may be worthwhile to periodically re-verify their background.
- Use Legal Counsel
Consult a lawyer if you have any questions or concerns about any aspect of the procedure. Legal counsel can guarantee that the verification is carried out accurately and in accordance with local regulations.
Also Read - Tenant Issues Related to Owner: A Comprehensive Overview
Conclusion
You can be sure that police verification is required whether you believe it to be or not for rental agreements. These days, almost all states have internet portals where tenants can quickly and conveniently fill out an online tenant information form. However, what would happen if the police verification procedure for rental agreements is not followed? Then you need to be aware that in the event that a tenant commits a criminal act, the landlord may go to jail for the offence.
Keep in mind that tenant police verification and tenant background checks are not the same thing. While background checks can be completed by using third-party verification services, tenant police verification is required. Tenant police verification is one of those complicated procedures that is stressful enough to discuss. Tenant verification is crucial for everyone’s safety as well as the safety of others.
Selecting the ideal candidate for your house for rent is important, but so is making sure you abide by all laws and guidelines. We at Lets Rentz are here to assist because of this. With our services and help, we promise to meet your demands and deliver the best possible possible so you can get a house for rent. Contact us to find out more about Lets Rentz’s offerings.