I have a great small business idea for the coming times which I am happy to throw out GRATIS

[Phoebe Loosinhouse]

A landlord credit check service!

They check tenants - why don't tenants check landlords? We hear a lot more about dutiful renters being victims of unscrupulous landlords who will take a first last and security KNOWING that they are about to be foreclosed on and then the tenant is out on the streets and what chance do you think they have at getting any of their money back? Plus, now they don't have funds to get a new place.

I propose a business model called something like "Happy Houses". The company runs a credit check on the tenant for the landlord and also provides a credit check on the landlord for the tenant.

Property managers/companies - this idea is ripe for the times we live in - move on it right now.

[lapfog_1]

1. That's a good idea, assuming you can dredge up the information

on the potential landlord.

[ColbertWatcher]

5. If no information can be found through regular channels ...

... that should say something about the landlord.

[raouldukelives]

2. I like it!

Still trying to get my CEO drug screening idea off the ground. Good way for potential employees to find out if the company is trustworthy.

[ColbertWatcher]

3. Why stop at landlords?

Why not check all businesses?

For BBB ratings, manager/CEO/board members criminal records, etc.

This is a great idea!

[Phoebe Loosinhouse]

7. Well, this is about addressing a specific need and problem that exists now about rental housing

No one has ever questioned before that the weak link in the lease agreement might be the landlord/owner as opposed to the renter, but lately, that is often the case.

I think property management companies can offer good credit renters the additional security of saying, "We screen all our landlords so that your life will never be disrupted unnecessarily".

The shoe is really on the other foot.Renters, you might be in a stronger position than you realize.

[ColbertWatcher]

8. I understand, I'm just thinking about expanding.

This idea will be very successful--as long as the landlords aren't the ones propping the idea up themselves.

[deadmessengers]

4. You know, I really like this idea

It's a good idea, but I think that whether it would work would be largely dependent on whether it was a landlord's market or a renter's market. In a market full of rental housing stock, tenants can ask for this stuff and competition would dictate that landlords would have to go along. In a market where rental stock is tight, the landlords will have the upper hand and would be able to tell tenants requesting such a check to pound sand.

[Mojambo]

6. Gets much worse and I'm going into the guillotine manufacturing business. n/t

[BadgerKid]

9. Good -- few cities have 'tenant unions'

where you can go and look up the complaints on landlords.