Contact South Milwaukee Police Department
If you have an emergency dial
9-1-1
Dial (414) 768-8060 for 24-hour non-emergency calls and general information.
Crime Free
Multi-Housing Program -
Tips for Property
Managers
Screening Tenants:
Usually when property is
rented, management wants
to make sure that it
stays crime free.
Filling a vacancy is
easy, but filling a
vacancy with a tenant
who will pay the rent on
time, not annoy
neighbors, and keep the
property in decent
condition can be
difficult.
Doing thorough checks on
prospective tenants will
help avoid the ones who
may become problems in
the future. In order to
complete thorough checks
owners/managers need to
have a plan for
screening the prospects.
Property owners/managers
should not discriminate
on the basis of race,
color, creed, religion,
national origin, sex,
disability, age, and
marital status, status
with regard to public
assistance, familial
status or sexual
orientation. The same
criterion needs to be
used for everyone.
Screening standards are
nothing more than
criteria selected in
advance, regarding
minimum qualifications
tenants who live on your
property must meet.
Management should
provide written
documentation outlining
the screening process
and provide each
applicant or prospective
applicant a copy for
their review.
Tips for Criminal
Background Checks:
-
Have the applicant
sign a Criminal
Background Check
Consent Form that
indicates they have
knowledge a criminal
background check is
being performed.
-
Compare applicant's
identification with
their written
applications. Ask
for clarification if
the information does
not match or if
there are
discrepancies.
-
Review the completed
form for accuracy,
legibility, and be
sure all questions
have been
addressed/answered.
Credit Checks:
-
Always run a credit
check on every
applicant. Do not
accept credit checks
run by the
applicant. Even if
they are a friend or
relative, you may
not know them as
well as you think.
-
A person with a bad
credit history may
have problems with
paying rent on time.
Tips for Showing
Rental Property:
-
Do not accept
walk-ins after
hours. Show property
by appointment only.
-
Let potential
tenants know you
require valid
picture
identification
before you show the
property. This may
prevent any criminal
activity/assault
during the showing,
as they know they
can be identified.
-
Try to have another
person with you,
such as another
manager or trusted
tenant if no one
else is available,
when showing a unit.
If this is not
possible, let
someone know where
you are and when you
can be expected
back.
-
Carry a cordless
phone or a cell
phone with you in
case of an emergency
or if you need to
call for assistance.
-
When showing an
apartment turn
(lock) the deadbolts
on the door while
the door is still
open. This will
prevent the door
from closing all the
way.
-
Stand near the exit
during the showing.
Let prospective
renters look through
the unit. Do not let
them get between you
and the exit.
Be sure to show all
potential tenants
the Crime Free Lease
Addendum.
