Lunch & Learn: Best Practices for Criminal Background Checks and Identity Verification

Lunch & Learn: GOT A VACANCY? Avoid Application Fraud Using “Latest and Best” Tenant Screening Practices

Join for lunch and learn all about the latest updates concerning California tenant applicant screening laws. Also, learn the latest tenant applicant screening strategies so you don’t get stuck with lousy tenants that make you miserable. Screen for the best – we will teach you how. Our expert, Alexandra Alvarado from TenantAlert (a/k/a, AAGLA Screening) joins us for lunch and an informative presentation. She will also be taking your questions as your Q&A drives the discussion.

• When: Wednesday, May 13, 2026, from 12:00 p.m. (Noon) – 1:30 p.m.
• Cost: Free to AAGLA Members | $25.00 Future Members – Lunch Included
• How to Attend: Logged in Users Can Register Using the “Register Now” Button.

Learn about the latest fraud techniques being perpetrated on housing providers, and how you can avoid being taken advantage of. Learn what to look for in a tenant’s application, credit report, and more.

Just some of the topics we will cover include:

• What’s NEW for 2026 and what may be coming up for next year?
• How to select applicants – do you need to select them in order? How to spot red flags on a credit report
• Risk mitigation strategies for filling vacancies and the do’s and don’ts of tenant interviews.
• Best practices for criminal background checks and identity verification.
• The top-10 tenant screening mistakes landlords and property managers often make.
• What's the most a California landlord can charge for an application fee? When can an application fee be charged?
• Can landlords run background checks in California, and which background checks can they run?
• What limits are being imposed when it comes to Section 8 tenants and other housing voucher holders? Do you always have to accept Section 8 tenants?
• The need for a strong rental criterion and how best to communicate to applicants?
• Does a California landlord need a prospective tenant's consent to run a background check?
• Which applicant do you choose? What if there are multiple, qualified applicants? Can you choose the one you like best?
• And, of course, much, much more. Your questions will help to guide the discussion.

The unfortunate reality these days is that very careful tenant screening is an absolute “must.” There’s been so much in the news lately about rental housing providers being fined or sued for statements made in advertising available rental units or statements made in conversations with rental applicants. To make the tenant screening process even more challenging these days, application fraud during has become a major aspect of the tenant screening process and it has become a growing risk for multifamily housing providers across the U.S.

Screening and choosing the “right” prospective tenant is one of the first steps of the rental process. Although it's an exciting part of the rental journey, it can be filled with uncertainties due to the challenge of finding the right tenant that will pay rent on time and care for your rental properties, as well as ensuring legal compliance with California’s tenant screening laws. During this webinar, we help you learn California's unique tenant screening regulations, and we will be updating you on the latest rules and regulations to keep you out of big trouble.

WARNING: THE INFORMATION PROVIDED DURING THIS SEMINAR IS FOR GENERAL INFORMATION PURPOSES ONLY. ABSOLUTELY NO LEGAL OR TAX ADVICE IS BEING GIVEN DURING THIS SEMINAR.  KEEP IN MIND THAT EVERY SITUATION IS UNIQUE, AND THE LAWS, RULES AND REGULATIONS ARE SUBJECT TO CHANGE AT ANY TIME.  SO, BEFORE ACTING, BE SURE TO OBTAIN TAX AND/OR LEGAL ADVICE FROM YOUR LICENSED PROFESSIONAL. ALSO, THE OPINIONS EXPRESSED DURING THIS SEMINAR ARE THOSE OF THE PRESENTERS. THESE OPINIONS DO NOT REFLECT THE OPINIONS OR VIEWS OF AAGLA OR ITS MEMBERS.

Presenter: 

Alexandra Alvarado, Senior Account Executive, TenantAlert

Alexandra Alvarado has been a Senior Account Executive at TenantAlert since 2015. Her extensive sales and marketing background in the rental industry has made her a point person for rental industry professionals who want to learn how to select quality tenants and reduce their rental risk. She’s hosted and moderated over 150 webinars for thousands of landlords and property managers nationwide on topics such as screening compliance, Lease Guarantee, evictions, emotional support animals, and more. Alexandra has a BA and MBA in Marketing from Pepperdine University. For more information, contact Ms. Alvarado at alexandra@tenantalert.com or (866) 272-8400.

Featured Sponsor:

TenantAlert (a/k/a, AAGLA Screening)

For over 30 years, TenantAlert has been a trusted leader in tenant screening, helping landlords and property managers fill millions of rental units with qualified tenants. All the details you need to make smart rental decisions can only be found in our background checks including credit reports, criminal records, eviction history, tax liens, civil lawsuits, and more. As an AAGLA member, you’ll get special pricing at AAGLAscreening.org, starting at just $9.00 per credit report. Every report also includes the option to purchase a Lease Guarantee, protecting you from lost rent or damages up to $10,000.

 Whether you need assistance understanding a report or have a tech issue, our friendly live customer service team is here to help! For more information, go to https://www.aaglascreening.org/.