The United States is moving closer towards a renter-friendly nation with renter-friendly laws. As renters cheer every time tenant screening laws shift in their favor, credit reporting agencies and rental property investors across the nation have to adjust to the turning, pro-renter tide. Despite that, screening is a necessity and there is always one argument you can pose. To be in the rental housing industry means you need to have the information to enable smart leasing decisions and keep yourself safe from litigation. You need to know about the sex offender registry.
The United States is moving closer towards a renter-friendly nation with renter-friendly laws. As renters cheer every time tenant screening laws shift in their favor, credit reporting agencies and rental property investors across the nation have to adjust to the turning, pro-renter tide. Despite that, screening is a necessity and there is always one argument you can pose. To be in the rental housing industry means you need to have the information to enable smart leasing decisions and keep yourself safe from litigation. You need to know about the sex offender registry.
A Different Beast
When it comes to the sex offender registry, these records are an entirely different beast than other criminal record databases. There are different levels to these records, known as levels one, two, and three.
Across states, levels one, two and three depend on age, risk of repeat offense, and if they are a danger to the public. The most notable factor is, however that only Level Three Sex Offenders are made known to the public, while the lower levels may be found at county levels.
A Different Beast
When it comes to the sex offender registry, these records are an entirely different beast than other criminal record databases. There are different levels to these records, known as levels one, two, and three.
Across states, levels one, two and three depend on age, risk of repeat offense, and if they are a danger to the public. The most notable factor is, however that only Level Three Sex Offenders are made known to the public, while the lower levels may be found at county levels.
It gets muddier in some states as records can have different expungement laws. Missouri allows “Romeo and Juliet” laws” exceptions. If you’ve had ‘consensual’ physical relations with someone older than fourteen, you can have your sex offender registration expunged after two years. Crossing state lines changes things, and sometimes city lines as well. In Seattle, Fair Chance Housing Ordinance SMC 14.09 states that landlords cannot outright “categorically exclude” anyone with a record, including sex offenders.
Depending on the state, rental applicants who are on the sex offender registry also have to abide by different rules.
Rules to Live By as a Sex Offender in
| California | Illinois |
|---|---|
| Fees of up to $10,000, no noted registry fines. | Fines of $25,000. $100 costs to register as an offender and yearly registry fees of $100 |
| Must disclose their social media identifiers | No Social Media while under parole or probation |
| Not allowed within 2000 of a School | Not allowed within 500 Feet of a School |
| Must report within 5 days of a residential move | Must report within 3 days of a residential move |
It gets muddier in some states as records can have different expungement laws. Missouri allows “Romeo and Juliet” laws” exceptions. If you’ve had ‘consensual’ physical relations with someone older than fourteen, you can have your sex offender registration expunged after two years. Crossing state lines changes things, and sometimes city lines as well. In Seattle, Fair Chance Housing Ordinance SMC 14.09 states that landlords cannot outright “categorically exclude” anyone with a record, including sex offenders.
Depending on the state, rental applicants who are on the sex offender registry also have to abide by different rules.
Rules to Live By as a Sex Offender in
| California | Illinois |
|---|---|
| Fees of up to $10,000, no noted registry fines. | Fines of $25,000. $100 costs to register as an offender and yearly registry fees of $100 |
| Must disclose their social media identifiers | No Social Media while under parole or probation |
| Not allowed within 2000 of a School | Not allowed within 500 Feet of a School |
| Must report within 5 days of a residential move | Must report within 3 days of a residential move |
While the applicants are responsible for abiding, and keeping up with, state-specific sex offender registry laws, they can also be used as guidelines for leasing standards for each of your properties.
While the applicants are responsible for abiding, and keeping up with, state-specific sex offender registry laws, they can also be used as guidelines for leasing standards for each of your properties.
How Important
CRAs, property managers, landlords, and residents need to be able to make the most informed decisions as they can. They need to know who they are renting to, whether it’s someone with a conviction that is violent or nonviolent. You can’t know who your applicants are from first glance and you want to keep everyone safe, so relying on a thorough criminal record database is a must. With the data backing you, you’re doing your part.
How Important
CRAs, property managers, landlords, and residents need to be able to make the most informed decisions as they can. They need to know who they are renting to, whether it’s someone with a conviction that is violent or nonviolent. You can’t know who your applicants are from first glance and you want to keep everyone safe, so relying on a thorough criminal record database is a must. With the data backing you, you’re doing your part.
CIC puts great effort to handle those concerns. With maximum possible accuracy, our criminal public records are updated daily from courts big and small from across the United States, Washington D.C, Native Tribes and the sex offender registry.
CIC puts great effort to handle those concerns. With maximum possible accuracy, our criminal public records are updated daily from courts big and small from across the United States, Washington D.C, Native Tribes and the sex offender registry.
