New tenancy checking service launched

29 September 2008

Icon Group has recently launched a tenancy check service to help landlords vet prospective tenants for both residential and commercial properties.

Icon is one of New Zealands largest privately owned security companies providing a broad range of services including staff vetting & tenant checks.

Staff vetting manager Debbie Schwarz says that for a fee well below the average of one week’s rental on a residential property, Icon will conduct the following checks, and if required will provide a pre-approved application form for landlords to use.

Included in the service are; reference checks with previous landlords or character referees, credit history check, Tenancy Tribunal order checks and a check of the Tenancy Information New Zealand database.

“All checks are fully compliant with New Zealand legislative requirements and will certainly give landlords peace of mind that they are making the right choice with tenants.”

“Whilst property rental is relatively low risk, the consequences of a bad tenant who damages the property or defaults on their rental can be considerable,” she says.

There are professional ‘bad’ tenants who are very good at targeting private landlords. They specifically avoid renting property through real estate agents or property managers knowing that they have access to information that can severely limit their chances of ever renting again, she says.