LOS ANGELES, April 20, 2011 /PRNewswire/ -- More than three-quarters (82%) of independent landlords say they would rent to someone who lost a home in foreclosure, assuming the applicant traditionally had good credit, according to a survey released today by The National Association of Independent Landlords.

"Landlords typically won't rent to applicants with poor credit—and a foreclosure will absolutely slam someone's scores. The exception is when they see people who have paid their bills their whole life, but lost their job, can't meet their mortgage and must hand their keys back to the bank," said Tracey Benson, president of The National Association of Independent Landlords.

Despite recent credit problems, Benson said, applicants with a foreclosure can prove good risks, chiefly because they did once own their own home: "These people are used to taking pride in where they live. Often, they lost their jobs and homes through no fault of their own."

Increasingly, mortgage defaults stem more from lost jobs than ill-equipped borrowers who lost homes they never should have bought, Benson said. A thorough background check, like one conducted by The National Association of Independent Landlords, will indicate into which category an applicant falls—and whether financial woes are part of a recent spate of bad luck or a life-long trend.

"Because of this abundance of defaults, there is a greater need for rental property, so landlords should carefully vet applicants," Benson said.

The National Association of Independent Landlords polled 563 members from March 21 through March 25, 2011.

About The National Association of Independent Landlords

The National Association of Independent Landlords is the country's largest provider of services for small landlords.  Services include credit reports, electronic rent collection and tenant screening as well as information about property management, rental laws in all 50 states and other issues critical to property owners. Visit us at www.landlordassociation.com or call 800.352.3395.

SOURCE The National Association of Independent Landlords

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