Renting out a property to a tenant from another country can feel like a leap of faith, especially if you’re not familiar with the local laws and financial landscape. If you’re considering renting a property to a Brazilian tenant, taking steps to verify their background can help protect your investment and ensure a smooth experience.
Procedure for Renting
We recommend that landlords begin checking all relevant information about the prospective tenant as soon as they receive a rental application or proposal. If the applicant is Brazilian, consider the following verifications:
- Identity ConfirmationVerify that the person renting your property is truly who they claim to be. This involves an in-depth analysis of their registered identity to uncover any inconsistencies. For example, some fugitives might use false identities, including those of deceased individuals. A simple investigation could reveal discrepancies such as death records, family details, age, and more.
- Example: Henrique Pizzolato, a Brazilian fugitive, was arrested in Italy using the passport of his deceased brother, Celso Pizzolato, who had passed away 36 years earlier.
- Criminal and Civil Records
Check criminal and civil certificates to determine if the tenant has any criminal history or existing convictions. Knowing this information allows landlords to better assess who they are renting their property to.- Criminal Records: These checks can help identify individuals who may have been involved in illegal activities. For instance, some drug traffickers use rental properties in foreign countries to receive shipments or evade authorities.
- Civil Records: Civil lawsuits can reveal histories of property damage, evictions, or other disputes that provide insight into the tenant’s behavior and reliability.
- Credit Analysis
In Brazil, landlords have access to credit analysis tools that provide general financial information about prospective tenants. These tools can reveal overdue debts, both pre- and post-judicial (such as debt executions), as well as known phone numbers, addresses, and other details useful for credit assessment and collection.- Why It Matters: This analysis helps landlords evaluate the tenant’s economic situation and decide whether to proceed with the rental or adjust the guarantees required in the lease agreement.
Why These Checks Are Important
Conducting thorough background checks not only minimizes risks but also empowers landlords to make informed decisions. For example:
- If a tenant has significant unpaid debts, this could signal financial instability and a potential inability to meet rental obligations.
- Knowing a tenant’s assets can provide additional peace of mind, as some legal systems, including Brazil’s, allow landlords to seek compensation through asset attachment in cases of property damage or unpaid rent.
You Can Rent to Brazilians
Renting a property is a big decision, and understanding who you’re renting to is crucial.
By following these steps to rent —verifying identity, checking criminal and civil records, and conducting a credit analysis—you can rent to Brazilians by reducing risks and establishing a more secure rental agreement.