Our Environment

With each passing year, the number of environmental liability lawsuits continues to increase. Regulations in most industrialized countries continue to place more and more responsibility for environmental hazards on the actual property owners, even if they were the direct result of actions taken by the renter. It is now more important than ever that landlords require extensive reference tenant checks before entering into lease agreements with prospective renters.

Possible environmental problems that can be attributed to negligent tenants include mold, improperly stored fuel or containers, and the burning of toxic materials. None of these hazards are covered by standard landlord insurance policies.

The importance of tenant referencing is especially relevant when considering the risk of renting to those who engage in illegal activities, such as the production of methamphetamines. These activities can lead to enormous hazardous waste and immense clean up cost. Most all jurisdictions will hold the property owners liable.

If you are considering becoming a landlord, be sure to invest in the proper background checks. It may save you thousands of dollars and it could prevent damage to your local environment.